Chowgule ground not available, matches in Vasco
PANJIM, SEPT 20
The AIFF and GFA were involved in a sort of a problem today as the draw for Federation Cup group was finalised only at the third attempt in which GFA general secretary Savio Messias emerged winner even as GFA president Joaquim Alemao sided with AIFF general secretary Alberto Colaco on deciding the venue.
The group matches involving Sesa FA, Churchill Bros, Viva Kerala and Chirag were allotted to GFA by the AIFF. The teams arrived and are scheduled to play on September 21, 23 and 25.
Matches were originally scheduled to be played at Tilak Maidan, Vasco. Due to incessant rains, Savio informed the AIFF about 10 days back that the ground was not conducive for holding the matches and sought advice, which was not forthcoming.
On September 17, Savio conducted an inspection alongwith Match Commissioner Ranganathan and opined that due to unsuitable ground conditions, matches may be shifted even out of Goa. The AIFF was informed, but there was no reply as sought for.
This morning at about 8.30, Savio alongwith Match Commissioner S S Shetty, Lawrence Gomes inspected the venue in Vasco and decided to play one match at Tilak Maidan and another at Chowgule ground in Margao both at 4.15 p.m. on the same day.
At around, 10 a.m., a meeting was held at AIFF’s Goa office at Fatorda with Alberto Colaco, Joaquim Alemao, Jaju Fernandes, Match Commissioner Shetty. They finalised that both matches would be played at Chowgule, one at 8 a.m. and the other at 4 p.m. The draw was prepared accordingly.
The team managers meeting was held as scheduled by organising secretary Savio this evening in Vasco. In attendance were the managers of four participating teams, Shetty, match referees inspector Walter Pereira, Anthony Pango, Jaju Fernandes.
When the draw, as charted out in the morning in Margao, was announced, Savio took strong objection on the ground that he was not informed about it as he was the official organising secretary.
Savio insisted that he would not chair the meeting any longer and that if the Margao draw had to be adhered to, then the one who was responsible for it would have to preside over the managers meeting and take the decision, he said. The Match Commissioner finally agreed to follow the Vasco (morning) draw.
As all preparations (police, ambulance, chairs) for hosting the matches in Margao were in progress, Chowgules informed Savio that no permission was given for matches to be played at Chowgules, although the ground was booked by AIFF for regular practice/coaching, since college classes could not be disturbed with the atmosphere created with a competition match.
Consequently, there was a need for extended meeting in Vasco, in which it was finally decided that all matches would be played at Tilak Maidan with two matches a day at 2 and 4.15 p.m.
The AIFF has a right to defend under the pretext that it was asked to take a final decision on the venue as Savio had sought its advice, which in any case was never given, and since the AIFF did not provide any reply, it was acting directly, not even having the least courtesy of informing and as such felt that shifting to Chowgules, as also asked by Savio, would save the situation and the matches would go on, moreover when the outstation teams had already arrived.
Savio disclosed that he had also asked Joaquim a week back to ask the AIFF to get permission to use Chowgule ground for hosting the Federation Cup matches, since the ground was booked by the federation. He was also told that the Salcete committee would look after arrangements in Margao while he alongwith Mormugao members would look after the Vasco matches.
The need for proper communication and sportsmanship can never be lost in such situations. Relationship is being emphasised and even overemphasied of late in the working of GFA by Savio. The question – who’s responsible for it in this case?
