Team Herald
PANJIM: The Goa Football Association in a statement said that Vasco Sports Club had informed that they would not be able to play their matches in the month of April 2019 as it is impossible for them to pay full month salary for the players to play a single match.
Vasco Sports Club in their letter addressed to GFA also stated: “We have also released our players and our U-20 players are already playing for First Division Clubs. So, we won’t be able to field a team against Goan Football Club on 25th April 2019”, stated Ravish Narvekar, Manager of Vasco Sports Club in their letter to GFA.
The GFA pointed out that the Professional League started late in October whereas ideally it ought to start in August and go for six to eight months due to its professional nature. It is for this reason that elections are scheduled in July, but unfortunately these were postponed to October 2018.
“The League was delayed due to several factors:Late start due to late holding of elections, non-availability of grounds, preparation and participation in the National SantoshTrophy first at Sholapur (West Zone) and then at Ludhiana (Punjab), participation of teams in international tournament in which Salgaocar Football Club emerged champions, All –India Gadinglaj where Vasco Sports Club became champions, Corps of Signals participating in their intra-units championships, I-League matches. Besides the GFA has to cater to First Division, Second Division, Third Division, Age group tournaments. Grounds are also booked by AIFF for age group tournaments and I-League,” read the statement.
“Postponement due to injuries is not acceptable unless there is some tragedy for which proper certification is needed or noted. In this case clubs have been asked to produce proper medical certificates declaring the players unfit with the injuries having taken place during the play,” read the statement.
“The GFA understands and empathises with the management of some clubs who have to bear additional burden on the team management as some of the clubs had taken some players on six months contract. That’s the reason why Vasco Sports Club and Guardian Angel Sports Club had just one match to play as adjustments as far as possible were made. Moreover, all contracts are extendable, the major beneficiaries being the players and officials and ideally players should play for eight to nine or ten months a year,” added GFA.
Guardian Angel Sports Club in their communication to the GFA stated:“We have already released our players as we won’t be able to pay the salaries for players for one more month as it is already late as the league was to get over by February and now we are in April, as we are low budgeted team and we are unable to pay salary to our players for April.”
The outcome of the two matches is yet to be decided. Hence, it is premature to say that “Goan Football Club collects six points from two walkovers.
