T
he Health Minister Mr. Laxmikant Parsekar today inaugurated the Sports Medicine Seminar organised by the Goa Football Development Council at a City hotel in the presence of the Chairman of the Goa Football Development Council Dr. Rufino Monteiro, the Secretary Sports Mr. Keshav Chandra, Leading doctors and experts invited for the seminar from across India and large number of Coaches, P.E Teachers and Sports administrators.
Mr. Laxmikant Parsekar reminded the audience that the Government soon after taking over fulfilled its electoral promise by declaring football as the Official Sport of Goa. He said that the Government went one step further by constituting the GFDC under the Chairmanship of Dr. Rufino Monteiro and from the reports that he has obtained, he expressed satisfaction at the strides made by the council by beginning with a focus on the crucial aspect of Sports Medicine.
In a lighter vein, Mr. Parsekar said that with the involvement of more and more youth in football and sports in general, the spending on health sector would come down and exhorted more and more people to take to some sport or the other. He assured that the desire the Chief Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar to establish a full fledged Sports Medicine Centre would soon become a reality .
Dr. Rufino Monteiro in his address highlighted the various initiatives taken by the GFDC since it came into being and informed that sports medicine was a subject which needed to be brought in the forefront so as to save many a sportsmen careers from getting ruined due to injuries which both could be prevented and also be treated. Resolving that he would not bow down to detractors who may attempt to sabotage the good work done by GFDC, he called upon all present to remain united against them for the future of the youth and their careers.
Eminent faculty members were invited for the proceedings among them being Dr. Vece Paes, former Olympian with Goan roots, Dr. Ashish Phulkar, Dr. Venkata Ramana,
Dr. Ashok Ahuja , Dr. Sheel Sheth, Dr. Sanjeev Sahni, Dr. Mahendra Kudchadkar and Dr. Deep Bhandare. The wide ranging topics taken up for discussions were “Talent Identification “Tap them young” by Dr. Phulkar, “Doping an evil in Sports” by Dr. Ahuja, “Role of Nutrition in Sports” by Dr. Ramana, “Management and prevention of Sport injuries” by Dr. Bhandare, “Risk Evaluation of an Athlete” by Dr. Kudchadkar, “Psychological approach to injuries” by Dr. Sahni, “Attaining Peak Performance” by Dr. Sheel Sheth, “Long Term Development of Footballers” by Dr. Vece Paes who stressed on the 10000 hours in 10 years model for highest level of excellence.
The various sessions were chaired by Mr. Brahmanand Shankwalkar, Mr. Bruno Coutinho, Mr. Honorato Velho, Mr. Elvis Gomes, Dr. Rufino MOnteiro , Dr. Bhatikar, Mr. V. M. Prabhudesai and Mrs. Liberata Mascarenhas.
On the occasion 32 different clubs and other institutional participants who had earlier attended the GFDC Basic Life support programme were provided with first aid kit bags.
Earlier Mr. Elvis Gomes, Member Secretary of Goa Football Development Council welcomed the gathering. Dr. Rufino Monteiro concluded the programme with a vote of thanks to all present on the occasion.
