The Goa Football Association (GFA) has received the highest coaching grant of Rs sixty-eight lakhs and twenty-four thousand and the Goa Handball Association (GHA) got the second highest with Rs sixty-eight lakhs and twenty thousand for the 37th National Games being hosted by Goa from October 24 till November 7, 2023.
Neither GFA nor GHA won any medals during the 36th National Games held in Gujarat despite football being the official sport of Goa. Former SAG executive director V M Prabhudesai is president of GHA.
The Goa Triathlon Association received a grant of Rs fifteen lakhs, the lowest for any association, according to sources in the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG).
The Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) has disbursed Rs 394 lakhs to fourteen out of the forty-three sports associations competing in the 37th National Games. With sixty to eighty per cent of funding for equipment already decided, the host athletes are still to emerge from their inertia and prove their merit.
Since the money is on the flow, association members are in a merry mode, though only a few are willing to forecast podium finishes in their disciplines.
The Goa Netball Association has received Rs sixteen lakhs for training only and is hoping the funds for equipment required will be received soon.
“SAG has promised all associations sixty to eighty per cent of funds to purchase equipment for training and have promised the balance once the receipts are produced. The funds for camps and training have already been disbursed,” stated a source in the Chief Ministers Office (CMO) on the condition of anonymity.
Most association members, however, are unhappy with the disbursal of just a percentage of funds for purchasing equipment.
“How can we go to the dealer and say that we are paying only half the amount or to supply us with material at half the price? First, the payment was made late and now this hiccup for equipment,” queried the president of an association.
A few associations were apprehensive on Thursday as the funds received from SAG and deposited last Friday were still not reflected in their accounts.
“I have just taken charge eight days back and can assure you that we are disbursing all that is at our disposal. Nothing is being held back. The money that is for associations is going to them within the system created,” assured Vivek Pawar, Assistant Director of Programme (SAG).
“I just finished a meeting with the executive director of SAG and was told to come again as I have been informed that some individuals have come forward and claimed to be representatives of some volleyball association and are claiming funds. This is ridiculous,” claimed the Goa Volleyball Association (GVA) secretary Hugo Gonsalves.
“If asked, all associations will claim that they are going to win a medal for Goa, but the reality is different. The organisation of the 37th National Games has reached this stage partly because the finance earmarked for organising and athletes’ preparations was spent on refurbishment,” stated a member from the CMO.
It is for this reason, according to sources, the Sports Ministry had to ask for additional grants from the chief minister. “Since money was not budgeted for refurbishment of infrastructure, the delay in disbursal of money to associations,” added the source from the CMO.
A few associations were apprehensive on Thursday as the funds received from SAG and deposited last Friday were still not reflected in their accounts.
The SAG office at the Athletic Stadium in Bambolim witnessed a lot of activity with association presidents and secretaries coming to collect the funds earmarked for them. With money flowing, optimism has grown and pessimism ebbed.
“Associations have no reasons to worry as funds are available, and if they have not been transferred, it may have been because of the bank holidays,” stated an SAG official.
“There have been some associations that began their practice much before the money could be disbursed just on our assurance that it will be done. Medals can definitely be expected from many of them and not much from those that are starting their training after receiving the money,” stated an observer.
The SAG office at the Athletic Stadium in Bambolim witnessed a lot of activity with association presidents and secretaries coming to collect the funds earmarked for them. With money flowing, optimism has grown and pessimism ebbed.
