In a troubling development, 30 qualified Muslim sports coaches from various districts in Gujarat have been abruptly terminated from their positions, sparking confusion and concern among the affected individuals. The coaches, skilled in training athletes across disciplines like judo, volleyball, basketball, athletics, and badminton, were informed of their dismissals without any clear reasons provided.
The dismissals came to light on February 19 when Mohd. Shoeb Qureshi, a judo coach from Modasa, Gujarat, received a sudden phone call from his employer at EduSports, notifying him that his services were no longer required. This news was shared with at least 30 other coaches and trainers employed by various government institutions in the state, all of whom belong to the Muslim community.
Expressing dismay, Qureshi reached out to his peers only to discover that they too had received similar termination notices from their respective sports education companies, including KinderSports, TSG, and Imperial International Sports Academy.
While the affected coaches have been compensated according to company policies for their dues, they remain perplexed and anxious about the circumstances surrounding their dismissals. Qureshi highlighted that the terminated coaches had consistently produced medal-winning athletes at state and national levels, adding that their abrupt firing lacked justification.
The situation has left many coaches questioning the fairness of their dismissals. A female hockey trainer, who has coached both male and female players for seven years, expressed her disbelief at being let go despite her positive performance reviews.
Sarfaraz Sodagar, a veteran judo coach associated with KinderSports, decried what he perceived as discrimination against Muslims in the sports education sector. He emphasized the qualifications and experience of the dismissed coaches and urged for attention to their plight.
The terminated coaches have sought clarification from company officials and government authorities but have faced silence and evasion. The Wire reached out to Vivek Kotwal, regional head, KinderSports, to understand why the coaches were fired. The portal says Kotwal declined to comment on the matter, and appeals to the state’s sports minister have gone unanswered.
Kotwal was not willing to speak on the matter but said that there was no statement from the company to address the issue.
Salman Shaikh, another affected coach, revealed that fear of future unemployment was silencing many coaches from speaking out against the unjust dismissals. Despite efforts to appeal to their employers and local authorities, the coaches feel that their grievances are being ignored due to their religious identity.
This incident has raised concerns about potential discrimination and unfair treatment of Muslim sports educators in Gujarat, prompting calls for transparency and accountability from the relevant authorities.