TEAM HERALD
MAPUSA: The stadium, which holds a capacity of around 3,000 tentatively, was literally jam-packed accommodating around 4,000 spectators. At one point the organizers had to even stop ticket sales but then resumed which brought in a gate collection of Rs 96,800.
Several die-hard fans who couldn’t afford to miss this encounter made themselves comfortable on the walls and behind the fencing near the team’s bench raising security questions. However, with Goa Police and traffic cell in attendance no unto word incident occurred. The Goa Football Association must get a pat on the back especially I-League Organizing Committee who worked tirelessly along with all the GFA executive members and Bardez Organizing Committee to get it all right, especially the traffic woes the venue faced last time round. Around 500 two-wheelers were accommodated in the land, earlier belonging to the Agricultural Department but now in possession with the GFA. It was Gajanan Kerkar, Senior Executive Member of the GFA and organising secretary of the Goa Pro league who suggested to Herald that the land of the erstwhile Agricultural Department should be prepared as a parking venue.
The plan was proposed by GFA executive member and I-League Organizing Secretary, Babli Mandrekar in the executive meeting held on September 11 and after following the issue with GFA President Shrinivas Dempo it only got approval on Friday evening.
However, Babli acted swiftly after a meeting with the Bardez Organizing Committee and got the land cleaned up along with the ground staff, some of whom even sacrificed their lunch on Saturday.
