MAPUSA: The Goa Football Association and Selvel signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the promotion of football in the State and launched the Selvel Goa Professional League at Duler Stadium, Mapusa, on Monday.
Nearly after seven years, GFA under the leadership of President Churchill Alemao were successful in roping a title sponsor to help revive football in the State. The Association after nearly working for months in strategizing and mind-mapping finally sealed the deal with Kolkata based company – Selvel group.
“I want to host the league in a big way. We must understand and request all 12 clubs to support and host this league in the best way. I am delighted that Selvel have decided to associate with us and will play a major role in helping Goan football at large. This year it will be just the Professional League but in coming years we are expected to get support for the other GFA leagues too,” stated GFA President Churchill Alemao.
“We need to maintain good relations with the Government and AIFF. Because of our good relationship with such bodies, we managed to get aid from the Govt this time. Our CM had promised Rs 2 crores for our association off which Rs 50 lakhs have been sanctioned and we shall receive it shortly. I would like to thank our Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for the above,” received Alemao, who have managed to get the required funds to the association as promised earlier soon after taking his position as the president.
Selvel, CEO Rajiv Gosh was delighted to be part of GFA and said, “It’s a privilege to be associated with GFA and on behalf of the company I can assure you that this journey will actually unfold into many dreams being made true. Selvel and sports go hand in hand as we are associated with many sports. We as a company would like to be associated to the grassroots football and do our but so that the budding stars can attain basic requirements.
“The GFA Professional league telecast is an interesting for all of us as it’s required in today’s world. We will try to work together. The matches will be streamed live giving opportunity to plenty of people to check and watch the Goan football. We will try to support GFA in every possible way and we hope we would be asked to stay longer,” he added.
Gosh stated that he would give his best to make this event a grand success. “We want to expand our reach and we want to cover everything including the first division to Under age matches and that also will be endeavoured.”
Domnic Pereira, GFA competition’s committee chairman briefed about the league and announced the league opening date. “The Goa Pro league will kick off on January 15 and shall continue till the April end. The tournament shall be played on single leg system due to Covid pandemic. There will be just 66 games. Our partnership with selvel and parallel sports it help us in organising the league in the best manner,”
Valanka Alemão, CEO Churchill Brothers who was instrumental in getting the sponsorship deal finalized stated that, “With great positions come greater responsibility and it was a matter of concern that GFA didn’t have a sponsor for a long time and now GFA President Churchill Alemao has managed to get a major breakthrough in getting the sponsor. It was a 5-6 months journey before we finalized this deal. I have faith and trust GFA that they will revive football in Goa. GFA is not just about one person but it’s about everyone associated with the beautiful game.”
GFA Vice presidents, Executive members and Pro League club officials, Parallel thinker official Partha Acharya and others were present for the function.
