GFA wants clear stand on elections from AIFF

PANJIM: While the Goa Football Association was on the verge of becoming the first State association to implement the National Sports Code, the GFA headquarters in Panjim, received a surprise mail from the AIFF late on Wedesday.

The mail asked the State association to conduct the elections prior to the end of July, which were scheduled to further dates following the June 15 committee meeting which decided to implement the sports code. 

Surprisingly, the AIFF letter had also praised the desire expressed by GFA to ensure its constitution is duly amended and thereby brought in line with the constitution of the AIFF.

“We have received a letter from Kushal Das late Wednesday evening advising us about conduct of elections which on plain reading shows he (Kushal Das) is confused on the issue and is not able to give enough clarity on what he means,” said GFA President Elvis Gomes.

“Since a meeting of the executive committee had already been convened for Friday, the same will be discussed and appropriate reply will be sent to him and also the committee of administration appointed by the Supreme Court to oversee AIFF affairs, asking certain clarifications before action can be taken,” Gomes added.

According to the sources, it has been learnt that it wouldn’t be possible to conduct the elections as directed by the AIFF at July end. “Even though the AIFF has asked us to conduct the elections next month, it isn’t possible as it requires minimum 45 days to follow the election procedures which includes appointing the election commissioner and other committee,” said a source from GFA.

The implementation of sports code would benefit the football fraternity at large as it has the 70-year age capping for the office bearers, which put the nomination of Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao in a mix. The former chief minister of Goa completed 69 this year, which means, if elected as president, he would be in office just for eight months.

Elvis also demanded a probe into the letter sent by the AIFF. “I will also demand a forensic test on AIFF mail to find out to whom else the mail meant for GFA was sent.”