Basketball crisis: GOA to clear the air over GBA today

  • | Friday | 21st July, 2017

Panaji: The Goa Olympic Association (GOA) has sought clarity from its parent body over the status of the Goa Basketball Association The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has granted affiliation to the Basketball Federation of India – faction led by Karnataka’s K Govindraj and recognised by FIBA, the world body. We are affiliated to the BFI , led by Govindraj, and I am the associate secretary as well, but GOA is taking its time. But despite the IOA making it clear that Govindraj is now the man in charge of Indian basketball , the GOA has failed to provide recognition to affiliates.“It should have been a natural process. Since being elected as GBA president in September 2013, his faction has conducted state championships regularly and also deputed teams for the Nationals, without much support either from the GOA or Sports Authority of Goa (SAG).“We are not in dispute with anyone. I have asked IOA for clarity; they have not withdrawn the previous sanction.

Panaji: The Goa Olympic Association (GOA) has sought clarity from its parent body over the status of the Goa Basketball Association The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has granted affiliation to the Basketball Federation of India – faction led by Karnataka’s K Govindraj and recognised by FIBA, the world body. But despite the IOA making it clear that Govindraj is now the man in charge of Indian basketball , the GOA has failed to provide recognition to affiliates.“It should have been a natural process. We are affiliated to the BFI , led by Govindraj, and I am the associate secretary as well, but GOA is taking its time. They want to be doubly sure,” said GBA president Fr Ralin de Souza.Fr Ralin is understood to have had meetings with GOA secretary Gurudutta Bhakta and been told to wait till the weekend.The GBA has two factions in Goa; one led by Fr Ralin and the other by Milind Shankhwalkar, who owe its allegiance to the Poonam Mahajan faction in the BFI. The GOA had granted temporary affiliation to GBA led by Shankhwalkar and were scheduled to take up their request for permanent affiliation during its general body meeting on Saturday.The discussion will still happen but it is Fr Ralin who is now in the driver’s seat.“The basketball matter has been included in the agenda and we will have a thorough discussion. I have asked IOA for clarity; they have not withdrawn the previous sanction. I am confident that we will have a solution in place during the AGM,” said GOA secretary Gurudutta Bhakta.It is learnt that the Shankhwalkar faction of the GBA has been invited for the meeting.Fr Ralin, however, said he was not losing sleep over the affiliation, especially now since Govindraj is at the helm of affairs. Since being elected as GBA president in September 2013, his faction has conducted state championships regularly and also deputed teams for the Nationals, without much support either from the GOA or Sports Authority of Goa (SAG).“We are not in dispute with anyone. There are parties which have taken the matter

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