HERALD: What are your plans for the 293,000 sq mtrs land purchased in Van Maulingem, Bicholim for Rs 45 crores?

CHETAN DESAI: I do not have immediate plans. Firstly, I will have to take clearance from the government. The place is feasible, provided the government backs us with proper infrastructure like roads. The roads need to be widened. The road leading from Auguada to Van Maulingem is hardly 10 km to 12 km which is very convenient for the players who can take this route to the ground. I am not aware of what the earlier management did. But whatever decisions were taken then we got to know of it only after reading about it in the newspapers. Earlier all the decision were taken without our consent.

HERALD: Will the GCA ask the state government to return the 7.5 crore they had paid to facilitate the transfer of land at the proposed Sports City in Dhargal?

CD: No way you can recover money from the government. But if the government in exchange is willing to give us a ground we will gladly accept it. Even a ground at Tivim will be good to conduct local matches. A mini stadium would be feasible to hold matches.

HERALD: Goa’s women’s cricket team trainer was reportedly pulled off from a camp what will you do to ensure such incidents are not repeated? What are your plans for the women's cricket team?

CD: The women’s cricket team has done very well last year. Sapanda Kambli, who was the coach last year has been retained for two years. I am sure she will do well. Mrs Veena Phadte will be the co-opted member, who will be in-charge of the women’s team. This year we will have a formidable team. Yes, there was an episode last year where junior coaches took over and that led to a lot of turmoil.  This year the lady in-charge will have to comply with the GCA secretary and president to avoid any controversies. 

HERALD:  Will you now do the audit of accounts as Dr Salkar had alleged that this was not being done?

CD: The audit of accounts was always done. The people earlier who were present since 2008 to 2015 alleged that it was not done. But every year the accounts were audited. It has been passed in the General Body meeting. We will show it to the public that no misinformation was given to anybody. 

HERALD: Are you looking at having international matches in Goa and when? 

CD: We are planning to have an ODI at Fatorda. But we first need to speak to the CM and the Sports Minister to acquire the ground 6 months in advance. We will see if we can have it this year. The next year is not possible as the Fatorda ground would be used for the junior World Cup. But in 2017 it is surely possible. 

HERALD: What about the GCA infighting have you creased out the problems with Dr Salkar?

CD: We had to fight it out. We had to seek legal help for GCA to conduct elections in a free and proper manner. After getting elected unopposed then only did our opponents realize that they had wronged us. But if you say that we have buried the hatched then it's not so. By winning the election if you call that burying the hatched then its fine by me but we have not buried the hatched. They had wronged us and realized it only after the court order.