MARGAO: When Gurudas Vernekar, popularly known as Guru joined as the stadium manager at Nehru stadium, Fatorda, many of his detractors doubted his abilities.
However, precisely after 5 years and 8 months, when Guru was relieved of his duties on Thursday, he went away with the tag of the most ‘efficient man’ for the stadium job.
When Guru agreed for the assignment his immediate concern was to maintain the success of his predecessors and it made him even more determined to prove his credentials. "When I was sent here I was very much aware of the numerous responsibilities. The Nehru stadium is the place where every big international and national sport is being conducted, so it was a huge duty and more so when whatever organised here for the last 20 years has been a massive success.So there was little margin for any failures,"Guru explained.
To be in command of the Nehru stadium can be quiet complicated especially on match days and when it’s football the authorities have to be doubly sure that all things are in proper place and preparations are in order. Arrangements in the VIP enclosure, players’ room, match officials’ room have to be a priority, a simple error in those areas could easily land the stadium manager in big trouble but Guru despite holding fort for a long period handled the tasks with consummate ease and the outgoing head of the Nehru stadium gave the credit for his staff and co-workers for that accomplishment. "I can say this with a lot of pride, all my staff from every officer to the grounds men, the sanitation section the security personnel, the plumbers, electricians and everyone has really helped me to get it done with their full cooperation. All these years my staff had been very sincere and honest towards me and I am really grateful that whatever I achieve would’ve not been possible without their unblemished support, it was really great working with them," Guru disclosed as he tried to hold back his emotions.
It’s still not yet confirmed who will replace Guru but the former stadium manager made a passionate appeal to the SAG employees in extending the same enthusiasm and support to the new incumbent.
"Whatever you’ve done with me now it’s your duty to cooperate and work together with the new manager, so that our proud record of conducting sports events without any failures since the inception of the Nehru stadium be maintained," Guru said giving a parting advice to his former staffers. The One Day Cricket matches in 2006, 2007 and the Federation Cup in 2005 at the Nehru stadium are some of the events which had truly tested the potential of Guru in his position.
