MAPUSA: The government has recently introduced the system whereby extra marks will be given to students of school which represent the school or state in sports activities at different levels and sports meets.

However, the government does not seem to take seriously the issue of improving the sports infrastructure in the state. The Peddem sports complex in Mapusa is a dreary example of the lackadaisical attitude of the government as far as infrastructure for sports activities is concerned.
The Mapusa Peddem sports complex is a major sports complex, where many sports loving boys and girls come for training. Unfortunately it seems to have fallen far behind in providing the required facilities to these budding sportsperson, who have shown an avid interest in sports and sporting activities. 
The Peddem sports complex is today lying in dismal condition and is crying for much needed attention, yet the condition of this facility has failed to attract the attention of the sports officials and the state government.
A visit to the Peddem sports complex reveals that the wall of the ground has collapsed on two sides. The exposed masonry of the collapsed walls shows evidence that the material used in its construction was substandard and not up to the acceptable mark. The lawn grass on the ground is non existent. One can see it only where the water from the swimming pools overflows and at a small square the ground is watered. The rest of the ground is bare with stones and mud. The football nets are spoilt and torn and a football, kicked with enough force will certainly break the nets and pass through. The entire complex is become a grazing field for the cattle that somehow find the gates open and unattended. Nobody seems to be bothered about the cattle and cows that enter inside the complex. It is also become the open air toilet of the numerous stray dogs that are found there, and who often chase and bark at the few joggers and walkers who use the ground early in the morning for a little morning exercise.
Not only is the ground in bad condition, but even the indoor gymnasium is in a most pitiable state. The roof of the gym has been torn open at many places, and considering the lazy attitude of the government, during this monsoons water will likely get into the gymnasium and destroy and damage a lot of expensive equipment. The flooring is in a bad state, window panes are broken, beams in the gallery are seen coming down due to negligence and lack of maintenance. There is no first aid kit or first aid facilities available. The toilets are in a most deplorable state. It was found that the washrooms and toilets are either broken or not maintained at all, and all give out a foul stench. There is no provision for drinking water for those who use the facility. The entire sports complex lacks proper and adequate facilities and due to this many boys and girls are subjected to great hardship. One administrative block that was constructed in 1993 is in complete shambles.
Dr Susana D’Souza, the director of Sports and Youth Affairs, when contacted, said that she has been trying to upgrade the sports facilities for all sports loving boys and girls in the state. She said that she was constantly in touch with Union Sports Minister, Dr Gill and hoped that with the necessary funds from the center, the state would have all state of the art sports facilities.
A few of the boys and girls who were at the ground wondered why the government is building new and state of the art sports complexes and swimming pools, when it cannot even take basic care of the facilities that are already existing. One also wonders what the state of the sports city will be, a few years after it is built, if it is built at all.
Meanwhile the Shiv Sena has taken up seriously the issue of lack of sports facilities at the Peddem sports complex. Mr Phillip D’Souza said that on receiving complains about the bad state of the gym he went there and was shocked  to see the state of the facility. He said, “Inspite of being informed no authorities seem to take seriously the issue of development and upgradation of the sports facilities in Bardez, and more importantly at Peddem. It is sad to note that amidst the big assurances given by the government on sports and facilities in this area, the ground reality is that the sports facilities at the Peddem sports complex are miserable. The government must do something about this and do it quickly. It is only by providing good sports facilities to our children that we could be in a position to send our children at International levels including the Olympics.”