Panaji, June 29: Goa Forward Party President and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai has demanded complete transparency from the BJP government over reports that the ₹35-crore Campal Sports Complex may be handed over to a private operator, stating that public sports infrastructure should be used to develop athletes rather than generate private profits.

Addressing the issue on Monday, Sardesai said media reports indicate that after the government entrusted the management of the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium at Bambolim to a private operator, a similar model is now being considered for the Campal Sports Complex. He urged the government to clarify the exact nature and extent of the proposed arrangement.

Questioning the government’s priorities, Sardesai asked whether sports facilities were being created for the benefit of young athletes or to provide commercial opportunities around public infrastructure. He said that while certain non-sports services such as canteens or solar power projects could be leased to private entities, the core sports facilities must remain affordable and accessible to children, schools, local clubs and aspiring athletes.

He stressed that a strong sporting culture is built through accessible infrastructure, quality coaching and sustained grassroots development, not by constructing stadiums alone. According to him, the success of sports infrastructure should be measured by the number of children playing, local tournaments being organised and Goan athletes representing the state and the country.

Sardesai also criticised the government’s sports policy, pointing out that despite heavy investment in sports infrastructure over the past decade, Goa continues to struggle in producing elite athletes. He noted that the state had to rely on athletes from outside Goa during the National Games to improve its medal tally, which, he said, reflected the failure to build a robust grassroots sporting ecosystem.

He suggested that the government should instead promote private participation through sponsorship of athletes, support for local clubs, coaching academies, sports science, physiotherapy, nutrition and grassroots tournaments.

The Goa Forward leader further questioned why established Goan football institutions such as Dempo Sports Club and Sporting Clube de Goa were not considered for partnerships, saying they possess decades of experience in nurturing local talent.

Drawing a comparison with sports development initiatives in Fatorda, Sardesai said investments there have focused on creating neighbourhood sports infrastructure that remains accessible to schools, youth clubs and local communities.

He also demanded that the government present a white paper before the youth of Goa on the progress achieved in sports following the 2023 National Games.

“Public sports infrastructure belongs to the people of Goa. It exists to nurture future generations of athletes, not merely to generate commercial returns,” Sardesai said.