PANJIM: After nearly six months without football in the state, the Goa Professional League winners were announced by the Goa Football Association at the Duler Stadium, Mapusa, on Tuesday.
“The GFA Executive Members decided to announce Sporting Clube de Goa and Churchill Brothers as the joint league winners,” stated Churchill Alemao, GFA President who made the first visit out of his house just for the love of the sport, after suffering for almost 45 days. He spent a month in the hospital fighting Covid-19 before spending 15 days at home and only moved out of his residence on Tuesday evening to chair the GFA executive meeting.
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The pandemic had brought a pause to sporting events in the State which had also affected the football wherein the league was stopped in the final phase and could be continued. At that time, Sporting Clube de Goa led the table with 44 points from 20 matches while Churchill Brothers where on 37 points and had 5 matches in hand.
“I had earlier decided to announce the league null and void for this season as it couldn’t be completed but then the members decided to declare the two teams who had the chances of claiming the league crown,” explained Churchill Alemao following the Executive Committee meeting held at Duler Stadium, Mapusa.
It was a very emotional evening for all the members as they lost one of the executive member and chairman of referee’s sub-committee José Santarita Coelho (Babush) who lost his battle against Covid 19. The members paid a rich tribute for the dynamic leader wherein the president Churchill Alemao gave a heart-touching speech followed by other executive members.
“Babush was an active member and was always there whenever we needed him. He contributed immensely towards the beautiful game and his work will always be remembered. The Association and Goan football will miss him,” stated Churchill.
The Executive members also appointed Anthony Barbosa of Youth Club of Manora as a co-opted member as a replacement to deceased Coelho. “The Salcete members proposed Anthony Barbosa’s name to fill in the vacant post of late Babush and the members accepted it,” expressed Churchill.
Churchill Alemao also revealed that the Executive Committee appointed ethics committee to keep a check on the ethical functioning of the league.
“The GPL is scheduled to kick-off in first week of December with CRS formalities and adequate SOPs. The process of registration will start from tomorrow (September 30) with the last date being October 15.
“The annual general body meeting has been slated for December,” Churchill disclosed.
