PANJIM: With Wilred Leisure Sports Club pulling out of the Goa Professional League (GPL), the entire planning for the GPL, now scheduled to start on August 24, has gone into a spin.
The Goa Football Association (GFA) today dispatched a letter to Calangute Association asking them to confirm its participation in the GPL at the earlier.
Calangute Association automatically qualify from the First Division as replacement for Wilred Leisure, who have pulled out, citing financial reasons.
Calangute Association General Secretary Alirio Lobo confirmed receipt of a letter from GFA.
The letter read, “This is to inform you that Calangute Association has been promoted to the Goa Professional League 2014-15. Confirm participation at the earliest for the above tournament.”
Lobo informed Herald that the Calangute Association executive committee held an emergency meeting on Thursday evening, to decide whether it was ready to play the GPL at the last minute.
“The decision to participate is subject to a sponsorship. Issues like financial inputs to survive the League, recruitment of quality players etc, were being discussed. The name of a prospective sponsor was floated and it was decided to hold talks with the party.”
“The club management will be holding talks with a prospective sponsor on Friday and a decision to participate in GPL will be decided by evening,” Alirio informed.
Earlier, Wilred Leisure had dispatched a letter to the GFA, on Monday stating that they are compelled to withdraw from the GPL as their sponsor withdrew at the last minute.
According to sources, GFA cannot move any punitive measures against the club, as the club withdrew before the draw was executed.
If Calangute Association fails to confirm their participation, the GFA will have to run the GPL with just nine teams.
“Wilred is out. Calangute can replace them on the draw. If Calangute pulls back due to difficulties in last minute arrangements, the GFA will go with only nine teams,” the source said, adding that there will be no problem to the itinerary, as all matches against Wilred will be cancelled.
Meanwhile, only the first phase draw was released at the GPL CEO/managers meeting with the GFA, though it has not been made public.
GFA President Elvis Gomes, agreed that clubs pulling out of the GPL was indeed worrying.
“We cannot afford clubs deserting the way it has been happening. Some are forced out like Churchill Brothers and some fall out due to financial difficulties. The concern is that sufficient attention has not been given to the financial health of clubs. It is a worrisome,” said Elvis to Herald.
If at all the GPL is conducted with nine teams, it is left for GFA to decide as to how many teams will be relegated form the Pro League and so also, how many teams will be promoted from the 2014-15 First Division League to next seasons Pro League?
