ramchandra b jirage known for his long stint as director of sports and executive director of sports authority of goa passed away on wednesday he was 83jirage was a popular figure among sports enthusiasts and is best remembered for his role in ensuring that the nehru stadium in fatorda was constructed in a record time of less than eight monthsthe role of the then sports minister francisco monte cruz is well documented monte cruzs name is synonymous with the stadium but the role of jirage can hardly be ignored when the stadium was being constructed he was the executive director sports authority of goa and director directorate of sports and youth affairsthe stadium was not his lone achievement the preliminary coaches scheme where hundreds got appreciation and jobs financial assistance to sportspersons in indigenous circumstances prize money scheme for medallists at the nationals and government playground in each village were all his thinkingthe first sai hostel in goa was housed in his new flat at tonca since the government did not have adequate accommodationjirage joined as assistant officer for physical education directorate of education on july 28 1973 and retired as director of sports and executive director of sag in 1995interestingly all his three children rajashree kedar and vijayshree have represented the state in badminton