Panaji: The state government should recognise the contribution of Goan sporting legends and name all sports infrastructure in Goa after sportspersons who brought laurels to the country, said Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco on Saturday.
“It is high time that the state recognises the contribution of it’s sporting legends down the years. I request your good self that henceforth, all sporting infrastructure in Goa must be named only after Goa’s sportspersons who have left an imprint on the global sports arena,” said Lourenco in a letter to the government.
Chief minister Pramod Sawant recently announced the decision to name the hockey stadium in Mapusa and the Bambolim athletic stadium after hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand and athletic legend Milkha Singh.
Notable Goans who brought laurels to the country are; Leo Pinto (hockey), Walter de Sousa (hockey), Neville D’Souza (football), Mary D’Souza Sequeira (athletics, hockey), Stephanie D’Souza (athletics, hockey), Vece Paes (sports medicine), Joaquim Martin Carvalho (hockey), Brahmanand Sagoon Kamat Sankhwalkar (football), and Dilip Sardesai (cricketer).
“Naming stadiums and other infrastructure in Goa after sporting stalwarts will inspire our children and our posterity to work hard to achieve sporting excellence on the world stage. We must name stadiums in Goa after legendary Goan sportspersons who have brought laurels to India and to the state,” the MLA said in a letter to the government.