TEAM HERALD
sports@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Hectic lobbying has begun behind the curtains as the run up for the Goa Football Association elections is gaining momentum.
Over the last 72 hours, nine forms have been picked up for the president post, while it is believed that 15 forms for the vice-president have been picked up. Twenty-two forms for executive members have also been picked till date, from the Goa Football Association office, according to our sources.
Senior-Vice President (South) of Goa Football Association Elvis Gomes is the only official to have filled his nomination so far. Among those who have picked up forms for the president’s post is current President and AIFF Vice-President Shrinivas Dempo and Savio Messias of Vasco Sports Club. Sporting Clube de Goa, Goa Velha, Salcete FC and Anjuna Gymkhana are some of the clubs looking to file for vice-president and president posts.
According to sources, it is believed that Shrinivas Dempo may also throw in his hat in the ring for the post of president’s post.
But many feel that a compromise formula could be worked out and consensus is better than elections, they state.
Tony Remedious, former senior vice-president of GFA pointed out that though Elvis Gomes is a good choice for the post of president, he should ask the government or the Goa Football Development Council to relieve him of the post of member secretary, as he is burdened with important Government portfolios, that of housing and municipality.
According to another source, it is believed that the Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar is averse to Gomes filing his nomination for presidentship. It may be recalled that Gomes who laid the platform for the Lusofonia Games as its CEO, fell out of favour with Tawadkar and quit the post. Gomes decided to file his nomination only after he received the green signal from Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and was cleared by the Personnel Department.
Remedious pointed out that the next four years will be very important as far as Goa’s football administration goes, in view of the ISL and the Under-17 World Cup.
Remedious further pointed out that GFA should also seek legal opinion of the circular issued by the Personnel Department regarding government servants in sports bodies, as no room should be allowed for any individual or club to challenge the circular in a court of law, which could hamper football administration.
The last date to file nominations is June 27, by 12 noon.
