SAG table tennis coach Amit Naik at Campal with only one trainee in attendance.
PANAJI
In an urgent appeal to the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG), the former Secretary of the Goa Badminton Association and Joint Secretary of the Goa RTI Forum Sandeep Heble highlighted the urgent need for a comprehensive revamp of the coaching and monitoring section, currently led by Bruno Coutinho, Director of Coaching.
In a letter which has been addressed to the Chief Minister and Sports Minister, including higher authorities in the SAG, Heble mentions several critical issues that have plagued the department for years, leading to severe inefficiencies and stunting the growth of sports in the state.
The lack of a robust performance monitoring system, supervisory mechanisms, and performance audits of coaches has been flagged as a significant hindrance to the development of sports. The absence of regular feedback loops, modern coaching techniques, and a transparent reporting system is also contributing to a decline in the quality of coaching.
One prominent example highlighted by Heble in the letter is the case of Table Tennis coaching at the SAG Panaji center, where coach Amit Naik has struggled to attract trainees. Despite being transferred from Chicalim due to poor performance, Naik is currently handling just one or two trainees. In contrast, other centers, such as Don Bosco Oratory, have seen over 50 players flourishing under dedicated coaching. This disparity in coaching quality has left young athletes demotivated and looking for better guidance.
The letter also emphasised that the Director of Coaching, Bruno Coutinho, has been made aware of such issues but no corrective action has been executed.
The former official emphasized that a restructuring of the SAG’s Coaching and Monitoring Section is vital to fostering a conducive environment for sporting excellence in Goa. He urged immediate action, stating that without a drastic overhaul, Goa may continue to fall behind in its aspirations to become a top sporting hub.
The letter concludes by calling for immediate attention to the matter, with a plea to the authorities to initiate the necessary reforms to improve the state of sports in Goa.
