MARGAO: Benaulim MLA and Churchill Brothers Sports Club Patron Churchill Alemao confirmed his interest for the position of the president of Goa Football Association, on Friday.
Addressing a press conference Churchill expressed his desire in the GFA top job and said, “I’ve decided to contest these elections mainly because many clubs –both from North and South Goa –had been continuously asking me to lead the Goa Football Association – I have given my life for football,”
“The way the clubs are supporting it looks like I will be elected unanimously,” Churchill confidently said.
Surprisingly, the former Chief Minister, who has been part of the State politics for over two decades made an unusual statement saying, “For me football comes before politics.”
Hinting on the relationship between the present President Elvis Gomes and the National and State sporting bodies, Churchill said that there should be good relationship between the SAG and AIFF for the organisation to run smooth.
According to the sources, Churchill Brothers SC have cleared their debt of around Rs 11lakhs to the Goa Football Association, which they had refused to pay for the last four years.
Churchill further questioned about why Goan players were not selected for the FIFA U-17 World Cup and why AIFF refused to host selection trials for Goan players when there is so much of talent in the State, “Goa government has declared football as the official sports of Goa and when we got the opportunity to host the U-17 World Cup, I was shocked to see that no Goan player played in the India U-17 squad. When AIFF asked, the scouting was not done, I don’t know why it was not done but I can say that there is talent in Goa,” Churchill said.
He further added that Goa has produced good players including Lenny from Varca and other several players who are playing in the Indian Super League.
“Churchill Brothers climbed the steps of success from Goa Professional League to I-League and increased the payments which made the other clubs increase the pay cheques of the players,” he said.
“Churchill knows the best of football, how to take football forward,” he further stated.
Churchill further said that the Goa Professional League winners should be awarded at least Rs 10 lakhs while the runners-up should receive Rs 7 lakhs. Therefore GFA should have a good approach towards businessmen in Goa and ask them to sponsor tournaments.
He also said that the Goa Professional League should be held in South Goa and North Goa and promised that he would ask for the government for a ground in South Goa if he is elected as the President of the Goa Football Association.
“Football matches also should be played at 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. Hosting matches at 2 p.m., 3 p.m. or 4 p.m. affects the stamina and the performance of the players,” he said.
Speaking further Churchill said that the players insurance has to be raised from Rs 25,000 to Rs 1lakh.
