Goa Football Association (GFA) President Caitano Fernandes met with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to discuss the recent ban on Housie games, voicing serious concerns over its impact on grassroots football in the state.
Fernandes emphasized that Housie has long been a vital fundraising tool for local football clubs, especially those organizing village tournaments. “It is the lifeline for many village-level football activities,” he told the Chief Minister during the meeting.
Chief Minister Sawant acknowledged the concerns raised by GFA and assured full support to protect the interests of local sports clubs.
In a follow-up step, the GFA is scheduled to meet with affected football clubs on April 14. During this meeting, the association will finalize a memorandum, which will be submitted to the Collector of South Goa, appealing for reconsideration or relaxation of the ban in the context of community sports events.
The move comes amid growing unrest among village clubs that depend on Housie to finance tournaments, player kits, and ground maintenance.
GFA has reiterated that any decisions affecting grassroots sports must be taken with proper consultation and sensitivity to the realities on the ground.