PANJIM: In a major surprise, the Goa Football Association discovered that its registration was not renewed with the Office of the Registrar of Society since the year 2000 and has been functioning since without affiliation to the Registrar.
This was revealed at the Executive Body meeting on Friday, which saw a full house attendance of all its members and it was decided to immediately take measures to renew the registration and follow all the procedures in providing the necessary documents.
The executive meeting resolved to allow the Goa Football Development Council to compete in age group competitions of the GFA.
However, the request of the All India Football Federation to participate in the First Division League was turned down but instead permission was granted for the AIFF Academy in Goa to participate in the under-19 age group competition.
In a major recommendation of the Competition Committee to increase the number of First Division teams was found with favour and beginning from next season Goa’s First Division will comprise of 12, an increase of four teams.
Meanwhile, it was resolved to write to the State government to entrust its grounds to the various village clubs willing to take over and maintain them.
The pricing of the VIP tickets at Duler Stadium, Mapusa was decided to reduce to Rs 200 from Rs 300. The executive body granted official sanction to the 2014 Eight Nations Unity World Cup which will be held as part of the St Francis Xavier Exposition programme.
A Players Benevolent Fund to be started in case of serious injuries etc though Rs 25,000 insurance to all registered GFA players is in place. The referee fee has also been enhanced to Rs 300 from Rs 200.
Women Committee Chairperson Juliana Gurjao has put her committee in place and will be tabling plans for women football development soon.
