Agitated Goan Basketball players seek support from all sides to revive the dying sport in Goa

Goan Basketball players finally seem to vent out their frustration through a massive peaceful protest against several irregularities in the functioning of the Goa Basketball Association. The protest will be held on Monday, June 3, 10 am outside the office of the Sports Authority of Goa(SAG), Myles High Building, Patto Plaza, Panaji.

Meanwhile the players/supporters have also knocked the doors of Goa chief minister Mr. Manohar Parrikar for immediate intervention.

Here is a copy of the letter:

1-06-2013

To, Hon' ble CM, Sports Minister, Chief Secretary, Sports Secretary,

Director(DSYA), Executive Director(SAG) & President/ Secretary(Goa

Olympic Association).

Subject: Illegalities in Goa Basketball Association – Immediate action

& intervention required

Dear Sir,

We, the undersigned Basketball Players (Past and present) and

supporters of the game; dismayed, disenchanted and frustrated over the

state of affairs of Goa Basketball Association since last more than 20

years, do hereby wish to bring to your kind attention the following:

1.   Democracy has been murdered in Goa Basketball Association. The

sport of basketball has been hijacked and held to ransom by two

individuals, namely Mr. C.F. Vaz and Mr. Shekhar Jain, who are

illegally  and unconstitutionally functioning as the President and

Secretary of Goa Basketball Association(GBA) even though their terms

have expired long back.  This is being done by them in connivance and

conspiracy with certain Basketball Federation of India (BFI) Officials

which is bringing disrepute to the game in Goa. No elections have been

held since last more than 15 years and their functioning is a cruel

deception being played on the basketball players and/or other

supporters of the game.

2.   These two individuals for their personal benefits have brought the

standard of the sport down drastically and are virtually occupying

power without exercising any sense of responsibilities.

3.   The Government has remained a silent spectator against these severe

illegalities and malfunctioning even as young students and/or players

who have taken up to basketball are being denied the benefits of

sports policies and other sports related schemes. Sports Kits/

Travelling and Daily allowances, Railway fares, etc are all being

denied to participating players.

4.   The Goa Basketball Association has now also lost its legal status,

having been declared as an unregistered Society under the Societies

Registration Act 1860. Yet, funds are being raised by Vaz/ Jain in the

name of the Association, which is a serious violation and a gross

abuse of the process of law.

5.   Mr. Shekhar Jain, being a Central Government Servant and a senior

Officer (Superintendent of Central Excise) cannot hold post of

elective office in a Sports Association/ Federation for a period of

more than 4 years, being barred to do so by Sports Ministry Circular

dated 4 February 2010. Mr Shekhar Jain has already served more than 20

years in the Association and though this circular having been brought

to his notice previously, he has refused to step down which shows a

complete lack of respect for law. Through such actions, Mr. Jain has

indulged in conduct unbecoming of a Government Servant and his

continuation as Secretary in the Association becomes untenable.

6.   Mr. Vaz and Mr. Jain have neither called for fresh elections after

the expiry of their terms nor have they allowed the enrollment of new

members. This is being done by them solely with the ulterior motive of

holding on to power perpetually; which they are doing so despite

lacking players/ club support. The membership of the Association is

presently stagnated at less than a dozen, which is a colossal shame

for a sports loving state like Goa and depicts the existing picture

and style of functioning of the present illegally functioning

committee.

7.   The leading clubs have all dissociated themselves from the

Association and the Mr Vaz/ Jain are wielding power with neither club

support nor player support. The Association has been unable to

announce proper annual calendar year after year, and clubs which

organize tournaments are doing so on their own without any Association

support.

8.   The Association has been de-recognised by the Sports Authority of

Goa as well as the Goa Olympic Association and yet, Mr Vaz/ Jain have

been  selecting teams which represent Goa, which is being done through

wrongful means and/or other corrupt practices. The selection of teams

has been arbitrary and non transparent which often results in players

of lesser distinction getting selected and better players left aside.

Goa’s performance at the National level has suffered on account of

this.

9.   The adoption of good governance practices is essential for healthy

sports culture. It is precisely for this reason that the Government of

India has instituted the National Sports Development Code. The SAG too

has formulated its own guidelines dated 7-03-2011. Mr. C.F. Vaz and

Mr. Shekhar Jain have completely violated the Sports Code as well as

the SAG guidelines, particularly the ones related to age and tenure

clauses and other norms pertaining to good governance.

10.   There have been various other irregularities in the submission of

Accounts to SAG and/or other Government authorities and other serious

violations of Societies Registration Act, where it has been previously

registered.

Due to the aforesaid violations and the gross abuse of laws, we the

undersigned request you to kindly take the following corrective

measures for bringing about the much needed change and transformation

in the functioning of basketball in Goa:

a.   Appoint an Administrator or an ad-hoc committee to run the affairs

of the Association for a short period until free and fair elections

can 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 part

of the governance process.

c.   Uproot the politics, corruption and nepotism that is presently

there 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 deems

appropriate in the light of the facts mentioned herein above.

As Goa is hosting the ‘Lusofonia Games’ within the next few months and

Basketball is also one of the sports which will be held here, we pray

that immediate action is taken to address our genuine concerns.

We have waited for a long time to get proper justice and we will be

compelled to resort to measures such as peaceful protests and black

flag marches during the games or its build-up, which will

unnecessarily tarnish the conduct of the games if our genuine concerns

are not addressed.  2 individuals must not be allowed to hold the

entire game to ransom through their deceptive and wrongful actions.

Your personal action in addressing these issues will be greatly

appreciated. We hope the Government will step in to bring about the

much needed change that we have been waiting for for getting the sport

rescued from its lingering crisis.

Thanking You

Yours sincerely

Basketball Players/ supporters(Petition endorsed by 100 signatories so

far - Names appended below)

Charles D’ Souza - 9890545547

Fr Ralin De Souza - 9921448023

Agnelo Dias - 9823052823

Aakash Madgavkar - 9850962440

Joyston Brito - 9158756568

Abraham Menezes - 9890829781

Sandeep Heble - 9326129171

Andrew Cardozo - 9822123428

Paresh U. Kamat - 9823727112

Rupesh Halanker - 9822756949

James Andrade - 9823118351

Ashley Do Rosario - 9850461471

Terence Vaz - 9822182190

Mahir Amir - 987349

Thalmann Pereira

Julian Pinto

Malcolm Monteiro

Vassily Mascarenhas

Anagha Warlikar

Mackenzie Pereira

Nihal Fernandes

Jonas Monteiro

Keegan Fernandes

Nicias Menezes

Yash Parekh

Gareth Cardoso

Flobert Monteiro

Soham Gurrala

Nehal Parekh

Levin Monteiro

Ryan DeSouza

Elvis Pinto   

Carlyle Dias

Arun Halankar

Keegan Pinto

Selvyn Godinho

Tyrone D’ Costa

Joshua Rodrigues

Triston Lopes

Ralph Rodrigues

Ryan Fernandes

Sohail Naroo

Kirk Duarte

Shaun Aranjo

Suzete Aranjo

Joseph Rodrigues

Klaine Simoes

Minash Sequeira

Joel Andrade

Noel Estibeiro

Arun Mayela

Sandeep Mordiw

Rupesh Halankar

Brian Colaco

Hiroyaki Tadokoro

Mark Lobo

Aaron Godinho

Ashley Furtado

Aditya Shirodkar

Kamlakar Mudgal

Sandra Joao

Reanne Mendes

Josipa Dias

Aishwarya Pai

Sherlaine Fernandes

Rose Rhea Rebelo

Nelvic Mendes

Muriel Gracias

Shivani Gaunekar

Clyde Lobo

Ranzia Rodrigues

Ashish Bhupal

Shaheen Rebelo

Kezia Fernandes

Ralph Velho

James Andrade

Alexandra Menezes

Rukma Pawaskar

Radhika Jalan

Snigdha Tiwari

Shona Mahambre

Nayaab Shaikh

Roy Pereira

Tejal Mahambre

Tristan Braganca

Dillano Marchon   Ryan Moniz

Ohlin Baretto

Dalev Fernandes

Clev Colaco

Sameer Sheikh

Nelrich Dias

Malivai Fernandes

Keith Fernandes

Gerard Vaz   

Eric D’ Souza

Kish Rego

Sandeep Heble

Bharati Heble

Jophilip George

& others