Team Herald
PANJIM: The new Goa Football Association (GFA) President, Churchill Alemao was humble enough to first thank Jesus and Our Lady of Vailankanni following his victory over rival Avertano Furtado.
“My faith is in Jesus, Our Lady of Vailankanni and Menino Jesus. Actually I should have been elected unopposed,” said Churchill while addressing his first press conference .
“The only reason I contested these elections is due to the demands of the clubs. If I wanted to contest this election, I would have contested it 35 years back. I am not greedy. All the clubs asked me to contest saying that they wanted me to contest,” explained Churchill Brothers FC boss.
“I haven’t come across such election even for Member of Parliament elections. This election coasted me a lot, not in terms of monetary value but in terms of the amount of energy I utilised,” expressed Churchill.
“I have given a lot to football. I have given my life for football. Today, football is alive, only because of Churchill Brothers FC. Any time you go to Parliament; you’ll only hear that Churchill is football. Because I gave first preference to football and than politics,” explained Churchill.
“Today because of football, the whole world knows Churchill Brothers.”
“I was hurt when many opposed me and I was even more hurt because they used Congress name against me. They used the name of Congress Party saying that Avertano Furtado’s panel is Congress backed panel,” added Churchill.
Speaking about his future plans, Churchill said that he would want to work a lot at GFA.
“There are many clubs in the villages which are shut due to financial reason and I want to open them and I will give them my personal support,” said Churchill.
Availability of the ground had been a major issue in the past at GFA but Alemao said he would resolve it at the earliest being a top priority and said, “I want to approach the government and ask them to give access to the grounds to the locals.”
“The clubs have shown me a great support as my panel won in South as well as North. I shall consider all the clubs before taking any decisions,” added the Benaulim MLA.
Churchill said that he would complete his term of four years as per the Constitution and try to take the State sports to greater heights.
“I want co-operation from everyone. Let’s keep aside all differences and all work together towards the development of football,” concluded Churchill.
