Herald: How did it all go about and which club was this that approached you for permission to hold a cricket tournament on the Cuncolim ground?
Y.B. Tavde: The Club’s name I cannot recollect now but it was a cricket club who approached us, they even went to the higher ups. Finally the higher up instructed us to give it to them on conditions that no damage should come to the playing field. We have also deputed an officer to oversee that no damage is done to the Cuncolim ground.
Herald: So you mean to say that the match be held despite the opposition?
Y.T: No, we have received representation from Cuncolim Club and other clubs too. We have already forwarded their representation to the higher up requesting them to revoke the order.
Herald: Is this an isolated case with the concerned club or you were just interested in focusing on sports activities?
Y.T: I do not know about the past, but my higher ups said let us experience if other sports activities could be held. Cuncolim in particular does not have grounds for certain sports. The Viroda ground proposal is under scrutiny and the matter is being looked into. But, if it is felt that by conducting other sporting activities which could harm the ground, we surely will not grant permission to the club.
Herald: When you make a mention of higher up whom are you refereeing to in this case?
Y.T: It’s the government and the concerned sports minister.
Herald: Now that you faced a situation in Cuncolim what steps are you taking to avoid another incident?
Y.T: But therefore I am saying if there is an adverse affect on the ground we will discontinue the event.
Herald: As of now is there a standing order to halt the game?
Y.T: The permission was earlier granted to the club to hold the cricket tournament. But after the objections the feelings of various clubs are already conveyed to the government.
Herald: Do you have a Plan B if the permission is granted to the Cricket Club, what precautions will you take?
Y.T: Well, if you look closely even cricket is a sport. Originally that ground was acquired for school activities not for a particular sport but during Lusofonia Games it was developed and adopted for football games. But the local authorities and higher ups wanted to experience if other sporting events like cricket could also be held. When I say cricket it’s the tennis ball cricket and not seasoned ball cricket. So let us see if it has an adverse effect it will be revoked.
Herald: So you are saying that ground was originally chalked out for school activities?
Y.T: Yes, originally all grounds were being used for school activities. If in this case the higher ups feel it’s going to harm the ground accordingly the decision will be revoked. As of now there is no instruction conveyed but when it is, we will relay that to the media.
