Tilak Stadium (Vasco) inspection for I-League matches
JOVITO LOPES
sports@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Being just the second day in office, Sandip, an affable and familiar face in the sports field having been the GFA’s vice-president for one term earlier and an upright officer of the Goa Civil Services cadre, having been earlier the South Goa Collector, Excise Commissioner, was busy getting acquainted with the projects concerning the infrastructure for 3rd Lusofonia Games to be held in Goa in November, its organization and also the working of the SAG in general.
JOVITO LOPES ON NEW TURF: Sandip Jacques, who has taken over as the Executive Director of Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) at the SAG office, Patto, Panjim, Wednesday. |
Sandip was handpicked by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar himself after the transfer of Elvis Gomes from SAG to DMA at the instance of Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar. There was a general feeling that the posting by none other the CM itself was an indication that Sandip was finally recognized as an efficient, honest officer who in the years gone by, was unjustifiably targeted by some vested interests with a view to tarnishing his image so that the dubious, well-entrenched system with ramifications all over India, was not disturbed and could be perpetuated.
Sandip’s first assignment will be the inauguration of the Tilak Stadium in Vasco which will sport for the first time, permanent Arena lighting with 1500 lux. This will help the GFA to conduct the I-League matches under floodlights so that these can be telecast live, something that was not possible at Duler Stadium in Mapusa.
SAG’s chief engineer J N Chimulkar, who inspected the stadium with his engineers this evening stated that the playfield has been refurbished and that the players’ rooms with attached toilets, doping room, medical room and VIP room were ready for usage. All major work has been taken up and nearly completed. “We will be meeting the Goa I-League club representatives shortly to take stock of the situation and finally decide on the inaugural function. Our new ED, Sandip, who is closely monitoring the work progress, is also of the opinion that a test run may be conducted so as to test the lighting and also the ground conditions. A final decision will be taken after taking all the stakeholders in total confidence as we are not in unnecessary hurry,” added Chimulkar.
Meanwhile, Raj Gomes, Salgaocar’s secretary, disclosed that the final call on hosting the I-League matches will be taken only tomorrow after the inspection involving SAG officials, GFA representatives and four I-League club officials. “The floodlights are yet to be tested. Most of the works have not yet been fully completed and work is still going on. Most importantly, there is no clearance of five metres from both the goallines on either side, there being no grass even two-and-half metres from the goals. There is also debris which needs to be cleared. Some more time will be needed for the grand opening since the Tilak Stadium has been given a major facelift which is praiseworthy, which could be in the first week of April,” remarked Raj, who praised the Government and the SAG for the great initiative. “We cannot forget Elvis Gomes also,” he added.
