April 02, 2008	Wednesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 24, 1429

KARACHI, April 1: Speakers at a function have bitterly criticised the Sindh Sports Board (SSB) for putting an embargo on releasing funds to provincial sports bodies and allegedly damaging the sporting spirit by promoting parallel associations in districts.

The officials of various provincial sports associations were speaking at the first get-together of Sindh Olympic Association (SOA) which formally met the other day with its president Dr Mohammad Ali Shah in the chair.

The orthopedic surgeon said he would soon apprise the Sindh governor who is also the chairman of the SSB to help restore adequate funds for the uplift of sports.The SOA chief agreed that it was difficult for the associations to run the activities without funding in every nook and corner of the province.

“They have done a commendable job without getting annual grain-in-aid for almost over a decade and kept the ball rolling,” a source privy to the meeting told Dawn.

It is pertinent to mention that Sindh secured fourth position at the 30th National Games held in the port city last year which is no mean achievement.

The incumbent said he plans to set-up a pool of funds and the money would be released to affiliated units from time to time as per requirement.

The official said he would also solve the long demand of members by setting-up a permanent office of the SOA in CDGK sports complex on Kashmir Road soon.

Earlier, a member also drew his attention for restoring sports quota for getting admission in local colleges and universities. With some exception, the sports quota was abolished long ago.

Some members were critical of the SSB for snatching the SOA rights by staging the Sindh Games at Sukkur in the recent past.

“The SOA which had a good number of technical officials under its fold were deprived by the SSB at the expense of so-called people,” they alleged.

Secretary SOA, Ahmed Ali, was also present on the occasion.