Keshav Kumar Bista, member secretary and Lama Tendi Sherpa, vice president, both nominated from the CPN-UML quota were at loggerheads since the former was nominated the executive chief of NSC, the apex sports body, on Thursday.
Speaking at the same forum, six days after Bista's appointment, they announced that there were no differences between them and that they would work jointly for the development of the sports sector."I congratulate him (Bista) for being appointed as NSC's Member Secretary and would like to convey my best wishes for the same. We will jointly work for the development of Nepali sports," Sherpa said. "It is not unnatural for both of us to be in the race for the post of member secretary and to congratulate each other now just like sportsmen do after playing a good match," he added ruling out prevalence of any differences between them.
Sherpa mentioned that Bista has been leading CPN UML's sports wing, Nepal Confederation of Sports (NCS), as its acting president while elaborating the latter's leadership abilities,
On the occasion, Sherpa opined that Nepali sports had been plagued by instability since long and pointed out outdated and autocratic sports policy as the root of that. "Democratic sports policy is necessary to bring stability in the sector and I am optimistic that the member secretary would embrace fast track in formulating new policy," Sherpa said.
Seconding Sherpa's view, Bista also said that there was no misunderstanding between them. "There is no rivalry or misunderstandings between us. We both competed for the opportunity though there were as many as eight or nine competent persons in the party that were vying for the post," Bista shared. "It is natural phenomenon to witness contrasting views and disputes in a dynamic party," Sherpa said.
On the occasion, Bista pledged to transform Nepali sports by establishing democratic system. "The current sports policy has given infinite rights to member secretary and I am not in favor of exercising such rights, because unlimited rights to an individual lead to autocracy," he said.
"Each member of the board should be responsible and share the responsibility, as in a democratic system. This can be achieved only if the sports policy is democratic," Bista said while pledging to work in that direction.
"There were countless disputes in sports sector in the past which victimized players, coaches and parents. Making sports free of disputes and achieving a prestigious status for it is my major priority and responsibility," Bista claimed informing that he was planning to set up a complain desk to address such issues. He promised put up a noteworthy performance during his four-year tenure and said that it will be remembered as the golden era of Nepali sports.
Seventh National Games in Feb/March
Bista has announced the Eastern Region will host the Seventh National Games in February or March, 2016. The games have been stalled since 2012 following disputes between Purusottam Paudel, minister for youth and sports and the then NSC Member Secretary Yubaraj Lama. The bi-annual event was supposed to be held two years ago in Eastern Region.
On the occasion, he informed about his plans of coming with immediate, midterm and long term plans for the development of the sports sector in few days. He promised to come up with a 10 year master plan for developing sports in line with the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS). MoYS is all set to form a task force for the purpose in near future. He said that NSC will come up with provision of providing life insurances to national level players from the fiscal year 2072/73.
Bista said that preparations for the upcoming South Asian Games to be held in India will start by the end of this year following discussions with sports associations and coaches.
On a different note, he expressed commitment to resume the construction of Gauritar Academy in Hetauda. Construction of the Academy was started in 2009 under the CPN-UML led NSC board but was stalled after Yubaraj Lama, who was appointed as NSC Member Secretary under UCPN-Maoist quota, took over the leadership.
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