Team Herald

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MAPUSA: Goan Football Club were the beneficiary of  six points, after they gained  walkovers in the ongoing Goa Professional League against Vasco Sports Club and Guardian Angel Sports Club. Vasco and Guardian Angel  management communicated to GFA headquarters that they would not play their last league match due to a long delay in conducting their last league matches and that they had already released their players, where some of them had already started playing in the GFA’s Geno First Division League.

Vasco SC was to play Goan FC on April 25 and Guardian Angel on April 28 but both the team managements preferred to give walkover to their opponents and pay the fines to GFA instead of further retaining the players and increasing financial burden on the team.

Vasco Sports Club manager Ravesh Narvekar stated that in the final fixtures given to the teams in the Manager’s meet, it was said  that the GPL would start on October 10 and end by the first week of February. 

“We contacted the GFA headquarters for a NOC to play in an outstation tournament. They had given us conditional NOC, stating that if we postponed any of our GPL matches then it would be a walkover for our opponents. And now our opponents postponed it on two occasions. But I don’t think GFA will give us those points. Also some clubs were given NOC to play in the outstation tournament postponing GPL matches. This is complete injustice towards us,’ Narvekar said. 

Ravish said, “We had asked GFA for postponement of their match against Dempo SC as some of our players were injured and the team had fatigue issues after playing continous matches. At that point of time, Dempo SC were ready for a postponement but GFA forced us to play that match saying player’s injury should not be the reason for postponement. We ultimately played that match and lost. But now some team postponed their match against us saying their players are injured and GFA quickly agreed to it. I can’t understand why GFA acted like that with us,” Ravesh further stated after Vasco SC returned from Gadhinglaj, Maharashtra winning the All India tournament.

Vasco SC, Velsao SCC, Guardian Angel, Corps of Signals, Calangute Association, Panjim Footballers and Bardez FC who had taken some players on six months contract to retain them said it was an additional burden on the team management.

The walkovers in GPL matches showed poor management from the GFA headquarters as the difficulties given by the teams were not being considered.

GFA’s Vice President Lavino Rebello clarified saying, “The main reason for the delay in starting the GPL was that, the then President of GFA Elvis Gomes was looking out for a title sponsorer which after months of delay never materialized. Secondly GFA’s election were delayed and the GPL finally took off in October.” 

 “The GFA should consider before fines are imposed on the teams that have given walkovers due to above circumstances,” opined Rebello who regretted the delay in the start of the GPL.