PANJIM: With almost half the year gone by since emailing their first letter to all the State Sports Associations (SSA) seeking the suggestions and comments regarding the implementation of the National Sports Development Code, the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) had to send another reminder to all the associations for their comments.
“With reference to our earlier letter No. SAG/CO/Prog/MYoS-NSDCI/2018/2949 dated 10/10/2018, and Reminder letter No. SAG/ CO/Prog/MYos-NSDCI/2018/3482 dated 27/11/2018, you are requested to kindly convey this office your valuable comments / suggestions latest by 24/4/2019,” said the notice sent by the SAG on Monday.
However, this letter had more addition to their first letter. The SAG looked more promising in their latest letter which said if the association fail to reply then they would be considered acceptable to Sports Code, “Failing which it will be presumed that you have no comments / suggestions to make and the National Sports Code of India implemented by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports in the year 2011 is acceptable to your Association and the same could be implemented by the State Govt. of Goa inorder to bring in good governance practices in the field of Sports,” further read the notice which also set a deadline of April 24, 2019 for the associations.
According to the sources it has been learnt that only two associations –Goa Badminton Association and Goa Basketball Association had replied to SAG on their views and comments regarding the sports code.
When contacted the State badminton association Secretary Sandeep Heble confirmed about their reply and said, “We had instantly replied to SAG giving our comments. Sports Code is something good for the State. The age and tenure has to be taken into consideration.”
The sports code focuses on the age and tenure clauses. The President, secretary and treasurer shall cease to hold the post on attaining the age of 70, while serve a maximum of two successive four-year terms.
“However if any president or other office bearer who is above the age of 70 wants to be part of the association, they could join in as an advisor or come with any other desired role. But the president and other office bearers role has to be restricted to the age of 70 and two tenures,” added Heble.
It has been learnt that Some States such as Uttarakhand took cognisance of the Sports Minister’s initiative and implemented the code in their States. However, in Goa, The Goa Football Association (GFA) was first state SSA to adopt the Sports Code last year during Elvis Gomes’ tenure as the GFA president. However, the same were altered by the present president Churchill Alemao, who claimed that no amendments were registered with the registrar of societies and those passed by Elvis would have no bar, and thus removing the 70 year age bar from the statutes.
Goa Triathlon Association (GTA) is another association in the State which has been following the Sports Code. “Sports Code is very simple as its just above the age and tenure and we at this association has no problem following the code. In fact there is no one above the age of 70 in our association,” stated GTA Secretary Ashwin Tombat.
“I don’t think anyone will have problem in Goa with the age factor considered in the Sports Code,” said Tombat.
