The year 2023 appeared to be never ending for sports in Goa – at first, with the sword of uncertainty hanging over the hosting of the 37th National Games, but in the end, the sword was swept away, though the results on the field may not have been as desired.
Goa finished with its best medal haul, and that record could stand till we host another event, as the emphasis was on making money instead of seeding sports, and except for the athletes, all got to enjoy a piece of the pie.
As the annual curtain closes on the sports stage, it has become crystal clear that the administrators of sports bodies have shifted the emphasis on themselves instead of the sport and the reasons are many.
Goa managed only a silver in football – that too in beach football which should not have been new to Goa – and the team has yet to be congratulated by the Goa Football Association (GFA).
Winning football would have meant a lot. But, the phrase ‘something better than nothing’ rolled nicely as Bruno Coutinho and his boys collected their silver medals.
GFA, according to the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) figure, was sanctioned close to a crore of rupees for the Games.
And, Caitano Fernandes and his team lacked the wisdom to call the victorious team for a cup of tea at the GFA secretariat when other bodies not related to football did, and even financially felicitated the players.
When the Goa men qualified for the next round of the Santosh trophy – which should be a formality given the status of the sport in the State – the players were given a purse to share amongst themselves.
As the annual curtain closes on the sports stage, it has become crystal clear that the administrators of sports bodies have shifted the emphasis on themselves instead of the sport.
The story continued when the women topped the second tier of the National Women's League and earned a promotion to the first tier for the forthcoming season. Once again, the GFA opened its pockets.
The GFA storyline of 2023 has appeared to be quite simple – give 10 and take 20 and the rest be damned because by now, it is clear that football, for Caitano, means his social status – an unknown is now being recognised.
Players, who were part of the beach football team that won the silver, are still waiting for their allowances, forget sharing any of the purse.
If Goa won silver it was because of the toil put in by them and not because the GFA did anything at any time.
Goans have excelled at the national level as individuals, and on many occasions, when it happened, the government proudly stepped forward to claim credit for acts of greatness seeded by families of sportspeople.
Before the National Games, Sports Minister Govind Gaude had claimed that associations were being given time to toe the National Sports Code till the end of this year because of the National Games.
The National Games are over and the year is coming to an end, and yet, none appear to be in a mood to follow the National Sports Code as the coffers of all associations are brimming to the full.
Goans have excelled at the national level as individuals, and on many occasions, the government proudly stepped forward to claim credit for acts of greatness seeded by families of sportspeople.
One particular association recently called for national selection with a rider that the selected athletes would themselves have to bear the participation costs.
When asked, the president shot back, “The State had not reimbursed the expenditure of the Gujarat National Games.” Money makes some people lose sense.
Lavish parties to celebrate medals won for Goa by athletes from outside, obviously with funds given for the National Games, was the bar. Honestly, Goa won where least expected, or where there was hardly any competition.
A one-eyed man is king in a kingdom of the blind. That is the state of sports in Goa.
We have athletes ready to work hard, compete and win not just at the national, but at international level as well. But, these are the few who get minimalist help from their associations.
As the New Year is set to begin in a few days, it is time to hope that the vision is not as blurred as it was before. This is the time – though it should have been before – for us to reckon that the emphasis has always to be on sportspeople and only them.
Sadly, sports has been used for social status, and is now financially beneficial to administrators, and the danger lies herein.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a vast outlay of funds for sports people, not sports administrators, and that swing needs to change in 2024.