Missing coaches hit SDATN hostels hard

Chennai

Sources attributed the repeat appeals to poor response to its notification from youngsters owing to absence of coaches for some disciplines.

The SDAT through its 24 hostels in various parts of the state provides training to budding sports talents in various fields. While Chennai has four such facilities, Erode and Namakkal have two each. The total intake is 2,030. Of the 24 hostels, 12 are exclusively for girls.

The authority also runs two Chennai-based sports hostels of excellence with an intake of 140 and five centres of excellence in sports, including two in Chennai, and others in Tiruchy, Tirunelveli and Erode.

The candidates admitted into these hostels are provided free boarding and lodging and trained in their respective disciplines. However, if participants fail to respond positively, they would be removed from the hostels.

SDATN sources said, “Lack of coaches for many disciplines had resulted in poor response to fill up sports hostels this year.” This resulted in applications being called for thrice, first on April 25, then June 17 and the latest on July 12. One of the trainees at a SDATN hostel said, “Due to absence of coaches, participants are not able to get professional guidance and this results in poor performance by players from Tamil Nadu. When this happens, they are terminated for no fault of theirs,” he added.

But, the problem is deep-rooted, said a SDATN official on condition of anonymity, adding, “Coaches, who are initially hired on honorarium, after some years of service seek regularisation of their jobs.

When officialdom fails to respond they move the court. However, officials express their willingness to settle their grievance through talks, but with a condition that the court case should be withdrawn. As the affected coaches refuse to do so, vacancies continue.”

A senior official said, “The coaches issue is true,” and added that more than 80 coaches were working on contract with the SDAT. He, however, demurred when asked when the issue would be sorted out and till such time sports development in the state would not be on a positive track.