Sports Coordination at the National Level; adding value or vanity!
Last week the MoS (Ministry of Sports) appointed a fresh set of Sports Coordinators for each of the National Sports Associations (NSA) with the DG (Director-General) himself presiding, to explain why and how this initiative should benefit all engaged in national sports; so many associations, one loses count of what it is? The martial arts in all its forms takes the cake! International representation is the great incentive and the local exponents don’t lose time in jumping on the bandwagon; the more the merrier appears to be the mantra. One in fact wonders if the MoS must introduce a three-tier classification, so that some legitimacy or valuation in terms of investment and reward is expressed, for all to see.
Sports Coordinators are not a new phenomenon. They have been around for a long time now and no one has perhaps ventured to assess how valuable they are? A necessary evil perhaps, but with the new initiatives in place, it may be time to put these elevated officials to work and work to make things happen, or brought to account in annual reviews! No point in having glorified officialdom where it does not matter and merely complicate the situation as it exists! Even now, it appears that these officials have more than one task to administer; geographic or subject responsibilities and the new appointment of sports coordination.
In past administrations over a long period of time, many of these sports coordinators also held office in the associations, leading to conflicts of interest on a daily basis. Some of them even led sports delegations as managers, coaches or observers; the temptation is perennial for the spoils of office are many and unbridled coercion is the name of the game. The MoS must prevent these compromises, for all its good intentions are negated when the regulatory framework crumbles and good governance is misplaced by official expediency!
Otherwise, the process is praiseworthy and underlines the absolute interest of the MoS to accept responsibility for our sports standards and deliver the goods. To do this effectively, it would be prudent even at this stage to give these carefully selected officers, some basic training in the profession, as the job requires a high proficiency in sports management. The role of the NSC (National Sports Council) is also crucial to the efficient discharge of this function. Their absence at the inaugural meeting and an expression of interest along with detailed expectations from their point of view, would have added a qualitative approach to the task at hand. There is a job description given to each of the appointees which appears to be quite comprehensive. But it will also demand an almost full time commitment by these ladies and gentleman. If these personages merely expect the NSAs to submit reports based on an official note (as it happens virtually every week), they will get what they deserve. It will be more important for the Sports Coordinators to share this responsibility with the NSAs and ensure timely responses to mandatory reports that the MoS requires from time to time. More importantly, they must facilitate timely responses from the MoS to the NSAs, so that prompt and sensible actions are taken without delay to move the caravan forward!
There is a growing sense of urgency and clear intent emanating from the MoS and its several Directorates. The NSC encompasses its overall blueprint and the ambition to improve our fortunes on the international stage. Thus, the levers of power must be properly mobilised and good intent converted to sustainable value propositions. Otherwise, only the vanity of purpose will prevail and nothing much to show for it!