Team Herald
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PANJIM: The two Goa Cricket Association (GCA) factions have finalised their candidates for the elections scheduled on September 16.
Vipul Phadke-led faction announced its list on Wednesday. For the post of President, the choice is Mahesh Desai. The panel includes Secretary Tulshidas Shetye, Vice-President Paresh Fadte, Treasurer Abdul Majid, Joint Secretary Anant Naik and Member Mahesh Behki
Altogether 13 candidates are in the fray. Supporters of the Phadke’s panel said their side has strong candidates who will win by a huge margin, with no negotiations needed.
“We expect to win 80 per cent of the votes. There are 107 clubs. Look at our candidates’ backgrounds and their contribution. On the other side there is no cricketing background,” said Chetan Desai, former president of GCA.
Vipul said, “This will be a one-sided contest. Everyone with us has a club. The other side has nothing. We are very confident because our people have worked for the game. They have come from the clubs, worked for decades. Even when the clubs had no money, they spent from their pockets to keep cricket alive. Mahesh is a former Ranji player, Tulshidas played U-23, Abdul has worked as honorary secretary from 2019 to 2022 and Anant was part of the managing committee."
"Mahesh runs a club in Vasco. All of them are doing well in their private lives too. People should compare this with the other panel. There are no cricketers there, no Ranji level experience. Our panel is cricket-centric, theirs is political-centric,” he added.
The rival faction has finalised Mahesh Khanolkar for the president post. Their list includes Vice-President Rajesh Patnekar, Secretary Daya Pagi, Treasurer Rupesh Naik, Joint Secretary Sushant Naik and Member Megnath Shirodkar.
Rohan Gauns Dessai said, “Our camp is equally confident. This panel is representative of all the clubs. We are fighting for change. Goa cricket has seen dark days for so many years. For 30-40 years there has been no international stadium. We want to deliver that. We have the goodwill of the clubs. The opposition has fooled candidates for the 25 years. Our panel will bring real change,” said Rohan.