Offers assistance if needed in the larger interest of sportsmen
TEAM HERALD
sports@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: One of India’s senior most sports administrator, Roque Dias who is associated with the Sports Authority of India as its Regional Director in charge of the prestigious Bhopal SAI training centre, where the Seniors Men Indian hockey team is training, told Herald that it is the prerogative of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, to stem the rot of factionalism that is plaguing Goan sports.
Dias pointed out that that sports administration must put the atmosphere of sportsmen first above all.
“Factionalism stemming from wanting to be in control for the sake of self interest, political interest, personal interest should be strictly dealt with, in the interest of every Goan sports talent,” he said warning that the spinoffs could be very detrimental in the development and progress of sports.
“Parents will discourage their children from taking to sports and good talents will be confused as to which faction they should side with, ultimately leading to disgust for sports,” Dias warned, urging the Chief Minister to take development and progress of sports seriously, specially with the ills of tourism like drugs and alcohol abuse catching up amongst the youth, which will in years to come will cause a major effect on the Goan social-economic fabric.
Dias recalled his efforts wherein his timely intervention paved the way for the country’sparticipation in the Deaflympics at Sofia, Bulgaria after the athletes were left to fend for themselves following bitter infighting between two rival factions.
Taking the wushu and basketball controversy in Goa as a case in point, he pointed out as an example of how the National Sports Federations (NSFs) work in India came to the fore after rival factions, engaged in an ugly battle for supremacy, failed to send the entries on due date, thus prompting the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf to directly get in touch with the SAI.
Dias disclosed that Mark Cooper, CEO, International Committee on sports for the Deaf Sports (ICSD) flew in to Delhi to hold an urgent meeting with SAI and the presidents of rival federations to break the impasse and work out a formula for India’s participation.
It was mutually agreed by both the factions E K Jose and Rajiv Sharma of the All India Sports Council of the Deaf (AISCD) in the presence of Cooper, that they would accept SAI to be the main organisation to decide the matter for the selection of the team, preparation of the teams and sending in the entry for the participation of the Indian Deaf Team (Athletes, coaches and supporting staff) in the Deaflympics 2013 at Sofia, Bulgaria .They also agree to send in the best athletes from both the factions for the selection trials and the selected athletes took part in the national coaching camp prior to the final selection of the team to participate in the Deaflympics 2013.
Dias informed that that till the issue was resolved, SAI was responsible for sending the Indian Deaf teams for other international competitions. It was also agreed to resolve the issue after Deaflympics and if necessary hold an AGM.
Cooper, after holding the meeting with the SAI officials, agreed to the request of Dias that the athletes will participate under the Indian tri-colour and the country’s flag will be hoisted during the Opening ceremony.
Two rival factions, who were accompanied by a Supreme Court lawyer of each faction and with the athletes and state association officials. The first meeting of Cooper was held with the DG, SAI and Roque Dias Regional Director.
A final meeting with both the factions together was held in presence of Cooper and Dias. During this meeting an acceptance letter was signed by the heads of the two factions, Rajiv Sharma and E K Jose stating that they agree for SAI to select and field the Indian team (Athletes, Coaches and supporting staff) to participate in the Deaflympics 2013 at Sofia, Bulgaria.
Dias disclosed that he was ever ready at the service of the State and was most willing to help the Chief Minister to sort out any imbroglio in sports administration for the ultimate benefit of Goan sportsmen.
