Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Sept 22: After Lt. Governor the activities of Directorate of Sports, it seems that there is a concerted effort to hoodwink the Administrator by officials of Sports department. Declaration of coaching in various events by the Sports Directorate is just an example.
Coaching can be done when talent scouting has been done, as is being done by Sports Authority of India. Sports Authority is the premiere body which has the expertise to coach hidden talents and bring them to the fore.
But here Department of Sports did not advertise for any post of coach, but has appointed a few through the back door on consolidated payment. Is it not making mockery of transparency?
In the Sporting arena there are specific jobs assigned to each establishments. Directorate of Sports is responsible for development of infrastructure and it’s up keeping; Sports Authority scouts talents from various corners of the Islands and State level associations conducts tournaments from grassroots level to State level and showcase the talent at National level championships.
In these Islands apart from SAI, rest of the two has lost its way. As coaching is the foray of SAI, department of Sports could have asked them to provide talented coaches to Directorate of Sports in selected disciplines which has medal prospects as per the existing records. If at all local Coaches would have had to be given a chance, it should have been given after giving wide publicity to the available posts either on contract or on deputation as the case may be.
Then these coaches should have been given the responsibility to search for talents from all across the islands. Instead of allowing the coaches to sit in the luxury of their chamber and wait for talents to reach Netaji Stadium, ideally they should be given a time frame to prove their mettle.
Thereafter from the next academic session these talents should be brought to Port Blair for rigorous training. Training should be done in such a way that their academics are not disturbed. So either ponder over the issue of starting sports School or select a school in Port Blair were these talents could continue their studies without hindering their training schedule. Marks for sports could be an apt option to attract players towards professional games.
State Associations play a vital role in giving exposure to state level players at national arena. But here associations are all jumbled in controversies. Right decision would be for the Directorate of Sports to approach Registrar of Societies and ask to call for record of all Associations and its subsequent elections. If felt necessary the Registrar can call for elections of all defaulting associations as per Societies Act, in the presence of independent observer. This will set right things in order.
As far as State Sports Council is concerned, it has to first prepare a stringent bye law taking into consideration the aspects of all other performing state sports councils across the country. There after nomination of members as per the bye law thus formed, instead of hurriedly reconstituting State Sports Councils and Regional Sports Councils. State Sports Council and Regional Sports Councils at the best can be made an advisory and monitoring body in the present scenario, as there are state level associations in almost all disciplines and it is their duty to conduct tournaments and select teams to represent the Union territory.
Instead of confusing things, Department of Sports should concentrate on development of world class infrastructure and appoint talented persons in a transparent way as Stadium Supervisors to man it, allow SAI to do their job of coaching, Associations cleared to function by Registrar of Joint stock companies to conduct tournaments and State Sports Council to disburse financial assistance as per its own byelaw.
In the present scenario when nothing is above suspicion it is better to work in a transparent manner without infringing on the rights of each other. If Department of Sports & YA, SAI, State Associations and AN State Sports Council cannot keep their house in order and work with perfect coordination for the common goal, there is little chance of revival of Sports.
Creating confusion by merely declaring coaching schedule without identifying talents and infringing upon the authority of others will not bear any fruit even if, the effort is from the part of the administrator.
