PANJIM: Churchill Brothers FC Goa undeniably had the best run in this edition of I-League ever since their return to top flight football. The Goan club finished joint top with Gokulam Kerala only to finish second on an inferior head to head record against the Kerala side.
However, their efforts were praised by their fans for the splendid run in the league and it was even noticed by Goa Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, who lauded the Red Machines despite being the lone club from Goa playing in I-League.
“Churchill Brothers is the only hope for the youngsters from various parts of Goa to play in the I-League. Otherwise there is no other hope for Goan players and for this particular reason we ensure to support the Churchill Brothers FC Goa club,” stated Sawant while speaking at the Vedanta Women’s League football event at Duler Stadium, on Wednesday.
Sawant revealed that this year the Government couldn’t give monetary support of Rs 3 crore to the club as per the schemes designed for the Goan clubs playing national football.
“Due to pandemic, we couldn’t release the grants as per the schemes, but because of Churchill Brothers’ efforts which helped many Goans to play at the National level through I-League. The Government will definitely support the club,” assured Sawant.
Sawant revealed that the government will continue with the scheme and said, “To ensure and help the Goan Club to progress and also to help the Goan youth to get National experience, we will continue to support the Churchill Bros,” concluded Sawant.
With Duler Stadium, Mapusa being the lone property of the Goa Football Association, the State football governing body has struggled over the years in organising over hundreds of games at a single venue.
To ease the matters, Sawant hinted of giving a ground for Goa Football Association in South Goa to help Goan football fraternity in ease of organising the games.
“Definitely we will identify a ground in South Goa which we can give to GFA to help them to use as well as maintain,” concluded Sawant.
GFA President Churchill Alemao had earlier thanked the Chief Minister for released Rs 50 lakhs, a part of the grants. “I would like to thank our CM Pramod Sawant, who has always supported the State sport. Sawant also ensured that our Association could get grants of Rs 50 lakhs. I am thankful that the CM has learnt about our struggle and if GFA could get another ground in South Goa, this will reduce half of our problems,” expressed Churchill Alemao. Alemao also requested the CM to release the pending grants of Rs 50 lakhs to the GFA.
