When ISL was first announced in 2020 to be played in Goa during the COVID Pandemic, there were hues and cries from various stakeholders raising various concerns. While there were locals businesses crying foul over hiring of outstation agencies and generating employments opportunities to the ‘Non-Goans’, usage of ground by the ISL clubs was another issue wherein the State association too raised objections.
Fast forward two years later and after successfully hosting the league, Goa can finally find themselves with one of the best sporting infrastructure in terms of International standard stadiums in India.
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Goa has Nehru Stadium, Fatorda along with Athletic Stadium and Tilak Maidan, Vasco, capable of hosting top flight football matches. However, it was just Nehru Stadium which hosted the major events, while the other two were mainly considered as the training facilities by the participating teams. But with the mega football event named in Goa, the others too were transformed into world class stadiums.
Due to the pandemic, the fans never got the opportunity to witness the games live at the Athletic Stadium and Tilak Maidan, but our (Herald) visit to these stadiums for the ISL League games saw them in the same condition you’ll watch it on the screens. The field of play was maintained throughout the tournament and the turf was lush green as it looked on TV screens.
For those who watched the I-League games played in the 2018 season would surely be able to relate the transformation Tilak Maidan underwent during the last two seasons.
The Indian Super League season eight produced some of the most cherished and extraordinary moments in Indian football. Hyderabad won their first title at Fatorda. But with life going back to normal despite the existing COVID, it is likely that ISL wouldn’t come back to Goa for the third time.
A source close to the League organisers stated, “This could be the last time we are hosting the entire league in one state. I feel next season, everything will be back to normal,”
Iyno De Souza, Director of Madeira Sports and Events Pvt Ltd managed two Indian Super League teams in Goa in terms of stadiums and training facilities. “There is no doubt the ISL and the ISL teams set the bar high for ground conditions in the State. The foreign coaches and the staff were very particular regarding the quality of the grounds and they ensured these were maintained in accordance with the world standards. The clubs bore the expenses of maintenance of the ground and they never compromised. Due to which, we not only have three of the best stadiums in India but also many very good training facilities in the State.
SAG to maintain the grounds
When contacted by the Sports Authority of Goa office, a top official who spoke on the conditions of anonymity stated that they would continue to maintain the grounds in their capabilities and are expecting to host the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
“It’s a challenge for us to maintain as the quality has been improved on all the grounds including the training venues due to ISL. We will maintain it at the same level. We will need to come up with additional training grounds for the World Cup,” stated the SAG official.
The official stated that SAG would initiate work on Velim and Ambelim ground field of play and get it ready for the second biggest competition to be played in the State after the men’s world cup.
“Though we weren’t initially selected by FIFA, their LOC team visited us this week and inspected the stadiums and training grounds, and we are awaiting the confirmation letter from the same. And then we will start with the maintenance work,” he explained. It’s no surprise that the successful conduct of the ISL in Goa during the pandemic and the ready-made infrastructure facilities has probably forced the FIFA LOC to reconsider a thought of Goa as one of the venues to host the game.
“The FIFA LOC is happy with the three grounds though we have to do little work on Cuncolim and Ambelim ground, which we will do shortly. We are just awaiting the confirmation from FIFA,” said the top official.
The SAG official accepted that it’s because of ISL and their clubs today Goa has top quality grounds. “The three main stadiums used for the ISL were totally maintained by the ISL. We only provided them with water. They got the best work done through their contractors,” stated the official.
Goa wasn’t part of the five-venues which were initially selected to host the games. However, the official stated that it’s not just ISL that brought FIFA to Goa.
“It’s not that FIFA is coming to Goa only because of ISL. Yes, ISL gave us the quality but we did organise the FIFA U17 World Cup in 2017 and BRICS Cup earlier,” he stated.
SAG should think of an alternative
Goa has nearly 200 grounds in the State of which most of them are owned by the Sports Authority of Goa while the others few are taken over by the village panchayats. However, with the ISL in Goa, all the 11 participating teams had their dedicated training venues in the states.
While few clubs opted for private grounds owned by local clubs and educational institutes, others had to use the SAG owned grounds.
It is learnt that SAG/Panchayat bodies would charge approximately Rs 4,000 to 15,000 per session per day from the ISL clubs.
“ISL not only gave Goa the best grounds, but also gave SAG and others huge revenue. Each team nearly spent roughly Rs 3-5 lakh mostly on training and maintenance of the grounds,” stated a club official of ISL.
“If you visit any training facility, they are of top quality. However, that was just because ISL clubs maintained the grounds. We have set our standards and ensured the infrastructure and the training field is of top quality for our players to train,” stated an official of Hyderabad FC.
But now things would be different in Goa. Neither SAG nor the village panchayat bodies would earn such revenue once again in future. With the maintenance cost of each ground ranging from Rs 1.5 to 2.5 lakh, the SAG should come with an alternative to ensure the grounds which have been built to this standard are sustained and maintained throughout.
“We all know the State of affairs once the SAG takes charge of grounds. Firstly the venues are difficult to access to the general public and then they charge exorbitant fees per session,” stated a member of Goa Football Association.
“SAG should give certain grounds to GFA and clubs and ask them to maintain the grounds, with a condition of allowing the villagers/locals to use the venue for leisure/games by providing one slot in the evening,” explained the GFA officials.
While others may argue that the SAG and Panchayats maintain the grounds, but they definitely don’t do at the extreme quality, hence many ISL teams opted to train on private grounds owned by clubs and educational institutes.
It is given to understand that FC Goa had to pay nearly 1.2 Cr (excluding generator charges and diesel) for utilising Fatorda Stadium for one season (total 30 days —10 match days, 10 pre-match days and 10 post match days). It’s learnt that the club paid roughly Rs 35-40 lakhs to SAG for using Athletic Stadium, Bambolim in the 2019-20 season (Rs 15,000 session charges with an additional Rs 5,000 for floodlights).
Definitely SAG wouldn’t earn such revenue again on sporting events as FC Goa has built/renovated the Salvador do Mundo Panchayat ground, which they used as their training facility for the 2021-22 season.
“The authority needs to also consider the Public Private Partnership option where they would allow private investors and clubs to take charge of the ground and also ensure the ground remains in top quality,” stated the GFA member.
It can be noted that San Siro and Amsterdam Arena belong to the respective governing authorities which are given to the clubs on a long term lease as part of the PPP model.
GFA happy with ISL moving out
With the league moving out of the state, there wouldn’t be a much happier organisation than GFA who struggled to find grounds to host the competitions in the last two seasons. Thankfully the association didn’t host as many competitions as they used to do earlier, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As a GFA member it’s good that the league is moving out of the State as for the last two seasons the grounds weren’t available for us. We had to settle with limited venues. Now that it’s not going to be played here, we would be freely able to conduct the leagues across the state,” stated the GFA official.
