1-06-2013To, Hon' ble CM, Sports Minister, Chief Secretary, Sports Secretary,Director(DSYA), Executive Director(SAG) & President/ Secretary(GoaOlympic Association).Subject: Illegalities in Goa Basketball Association – Immediate action& intervention requiredDear Sir,We, the undersigned Basketball Players (Past and present) andsupporters of the game; dismayed, disenchanted and frustrated over thestate of affairs of Goa Basketball Association since last more than 20years, do hereby wish to bring to your kind attention the following:1. Democracy has been murdered in Goa Basketball Association. Thesport of basketball has been hijacked and held to ransom by twoindividuals, namely Mr. C.F. Vaz and Mr. Shekhar Jain, who areillegally and unconstitutionally functioning as the President andSecretary of Goa Basketball Association(GBA) even though their termshave expired long back. This is being done by them in connivance andconspiracy with certain Basketball Federation of India (BFI) Officialswhich is bringing disrepute to the game in Goa. No elections have beenheld since last more than 15 years and their functioning is a crueldeception being played on the basketball players and/or othersupporters of the game.2. These two individuals for their personal benefits have brought thestandard of the sport down drastically and are virtually occupyingpower without exercising any sense of responsibilities.3. The Government has remained a silent spectator against these severeillegalities and malfunctioning even as young students and/or playerswho have taken up to basketball are being denied the benefits ofsports policies and other sports related schemes. Sports Kits/Travelling and Daily allowances, Railway fares, etc are all beingdenied to participating players.4. The Goa Basketball Association has now also lost its legal status,having been declared as an unregistered Society under the SocietiesRegistration Act 1860. Yet, funds are being raised by Vaz/ Jain in thename of the Association, which is a serious violation and a grossabuse of the process of law.5. Mr. Shekhar Jain, being a Central Government Servant and a seniorOfficer (Superintendent of Central Excise) cannot hold post ofelective office in a Sports Association/ Federation for a period ofmore than 4 years, being barred to do so by Sports Ministry Circulardated 4 February 2010. Mr Shekhar Jain has already served more than 20years in the Association and though this circular having been broughtto his notice previously, he has refused to step down which shows acomplete lack of respect for law. Through such actions, Mr. Jain hasindulged in conduct unbecoming of a Government Servant and hiscontinuation as Secretary in the Association becomes untenable.6. Mr. Vaz and Mr. Jain have neither called for fresh elections afterthe expiry of their terms nor have they allowed the enrollment of newmembers. This is being done by them solely with the ulterior motive ofholding on to power perpetually; which they are doing so despitelacking players/ club support. The membership of the Association ispresently stagnated at less than a dozen, which is a colossal shamefor a sports loving state like Goa and depicts the existing pictureand style of functioning of the present illegally functioningcommittee.7. The leading clubs have all dissociated themselves from theAssociation and the Mr Vaz/ Jain are wielding power with neither clubsupport nor player support. The Association has been unable toannounce proper annual calendar year after year, and clubs whichorganize tournaments are doing so on their own without any Associationsupport.8. The Association has been de-recognised by the Sports Authority ofGoa as well as the Goa Olympic Association and yet, Mr Vaz/ Jain havebeen selecting teams which represent Goa, which is being done throughwrongful means and/or other corrupt practices. The selection of teamshas been arbitrary and non transparent which often results in playersof lesser distinction getting selected and better players left aside.Goa’s performance at the National level has suffered on account ofthis.9. The adoption of good governance practices is essential for healthysports culture. It is precisely for this reason that the Government ofIndia has instituted the National Sports Development Code. The SAG toohas formulated its own guidelines dated 7-03-2011. Mr. C.F. Vaz andMr. Shekhar Jain have completely violated the Sports Code as well asthe SAG guidelines, particularly the ones related to age and tenureclauses and other norms pertaining to good governance.10. There have been various other irregularities in the submission ofAccounts to SAG and/or other Government authorities and other seriousviolations of Societies Registration Act, where it has been previouslyregistered.Due to the aforesaid violations and the gross abuse of laws, we theundersigned request you to kindly take the following correctivemeasures for bringing about the much needed change and transformationin the functioning of basketball in Goa:a. Appoint an Administrator or an ad-hoc committee to run the affairsof the Association for a short period until free and fair electionscan be properly held.b. Open up the enrollment of new members and give basketball players/fans and clubs the opportunity to join the Association and be a partof the governance process.c. Uproot the politics, corruption and nepotism that is presentlythere in the sport.d. Ensure that the sport is free from manipulation and self serving individuals.e. Take any other corrective measures which the Government deemsappropriate in the light of the facts mentioned herein above.As Goa is hosting the ‘Lusofonia Games’ within the next few months andBasketball is also one of the sports which will be held here, we praythat immediate action is taken to address our genuine concerns.We have waited for a long time to get proper justice and we will becompelled to resort to measures such as peaceful protests and blackflag marches during the games or its build-up, which willunnecessarily tarnish the conduct of the games if our genuine concernsare not addressed. 2 individuals must not be allowed to hold theentire game to ransom through their deceptive and wrongful actions.Your personal action in addressing these issues will be greatlyappreciated. We hope the Government will step in to bring about themuch needed change that we have been waiting for for getting the sportrescued from its lingering crisis.Thanking YouYours sincerelyBasketball Players/ supporters(Petition endorsed by 100 signatories sofar - Names appended below)Charles D’ Souza - 9890545547Fr Ralin De Souza - 9921448023Agnelo Dias - 9823052823Aakash Madgavkar - 9850962440Joyston Brito - 9158756568Abraham Menezes - 9890829781Sandeep Heble - 9326129171Andrew Cardozo - 9822123428Paresh U. Kamat - 9823727112Rupesh Halanker - 9822756949James Andrade - 9823118351Ashley Do Rosario - 9850461471Terence Vaz - 9822182190Mahir Amir - 987349Thalmann PereiraJulian PintoMalcolm MonteiroVassily MascarenhasAnagha WarlikarMackenzie PereiraNihal FernandesJonas MonteiroKeegan FernandesNicias MenezesYash ParekhGareth CardosoFlobert MonteiroSoham GurralaNehal ParekhLevin MonteiroRyan DeSouzaElvis PintoCarlyle DiasArun HalankarKeegan PintoSelvyn GodinhoTyrone D’ CostaJoshua RodriguesTriston LopesRalph RodriguesRyan FernandesSohail NarooKirk DuarteShaun AranjoSuzete AranjoJoseph RodriguesKlaine SimoesMinash SequeiraJoel AndradeNoel EstibeiroArun MayelaSandeep MordiwRupesh HalankarBrian ColacoHiroyaki TadokoroMark LoboAaron GodinhoAshley FurtadoAditya ShirodkarKamlakar MudgalSandra JoaoReanne MendesJosipa DiasAishwarya PaiSherlaine FernandesRose Rhea RebeloNelvic MendesMuriel GraciasShivani GaunekarClyde LoboRanzia RodriguesAshish BhupalShaheen RebeloKezia FernandesRalph VelhoJames AndradeAlexandra MenezesRukma PawaskarRadhika JalanSnigdha TiwariShona MahambreNayaab ShaikhRoy PereiraTejal MahambreTristan BragancaDillano Marchon Ryan MonizOhlin BarettoDalev FernandesClev ColacoSameer SheikhNelrich DiasMalivai FernandesKeith FernandesGerard VazEric D’ SouzaKish RegoSandeep HebleBharati HebleJophilip George& others