PANJIM: Sanguem MLA Subash Phaldesai, who flexed muscles to set up the Vani Agro unit against the wishes of the locals, seems to be at it again but this time he wants to capture Goa’s richest sporting body – Goa Cricket Association (GCA).
The legislator, who is the former honorary vice president of the association, seems to be focused on gaining total control of GCA, by dislodging the current dispensation.
GCA has always been known more for its off-field controversies and less for the on-field achievements of the teams and players. This time too, the association is in the eye of a storm with its three top office bearers – President Chetan Desai, Secretary Vinod Phadke and Treasurer Akbar Mulla – facing charges of misappropriation of funds.
While there is a demand that the guilty be punished, there appears to be much more to the case than that meets the eye.
The case was originally filed in 2015 by the then Dr Shekhar Salkar group before the elections but the case was withdrawn after a compromise by both factions. It is speculated that the compromise was brokered by Phaldesai.
The case has suddenly gained a new dimension with former Ranji cricketer Hemant Angle filing an application in the Supreme Court on the misappropriation of funds. Sources say it is Phaldesai, who has instigated the fresh row. This was more or less clear when Phaldesai was seen sitting amongst the audience at a press conference addressed by the Vilas Sardesai group on Tuesday.
Phaldesai was seen guiding Vilas on the “dos and don’ts” before the press conference but didn’t sit on the dais. When Herald asked Phaldesai about his presence at the meet, he replied, “We need to clean up some things.”
Asked why the case was withdrawn only to be filed again, the former GCA treasurer and complainant now Vilas said, “We have gathered more information now. The case was earlier withdrawn after the MLA brokered a compromise between the two groups for the betterment of cricket but now we see that the GCA is in a mess and no development of the game.”
He added, “Instead of progress of cricket, the office bearers are busy looting the association and we felt it right to file the case and bring guilty to book.”
However, sources reveal that the real reason behind the controversy was expelling of Vilas’ club Sarvodaya Sporting Club by GCA last year.
The GCA managing committee last year had decided to expel Vilas, Putu Rama Dessai, Vinay Gaonkar, Suhas Naik and Sarvodaya Sporting Club for anti-association activities.
