PANJIM: The Goa Football Association missed the first deadline on July 31 to benefit from the British Council and Premier League skills programme that would have trained around 20 coaches and 12 referees in the State. Kerala Football Association (KFA) wasted little time in their decision making and were quick to sign with the British Council.
The tie-up would have enabled GFA to seek assistance from coaches from Britain to train coaches and referees in Goa. Premier League and British Council were keen to work with GFA in the Premier Skills phase 1 programme planned for delivery at Trivandrum, however, no such enthusiasm was shown from GFA. Coaches and referees from GFA were to be a part of this programme wherein all the expenses of the programme would be borne by British Council. British council had sent a partnership agreement, however GFA didn’t seem interested in being part of it and now may be reconsidering the same.
It may be recalled that premier skills team did a scoping visit in February, 2014 wherein coaches from Goa participated in the event which was organized by the GFA.
GFA was offered 20 spots to coaches and 12 places to referees in the respective training programmes. According to sources, the British council had requested GFA to identify 30 coaches with 10 female coaches as 5 places were reserved for female coaches amongst the selected 20 coaches. The British council had also requested to identify 20 referees with 5 female referees as 3 places were reserved for women.
“The reason why GFA is taking so long could well be because it doesn’t have the required number of women referees and coaches requested by the council, as GFA in the past never focused on women’s football development”, the source said.
“If they decide to go ahead it could well be without women representation”, he added
When asked why GFA has still not confirmed its participation, a GFA official said, “We are still deciding on it and want to be a part of the program; however the new executive committee will have to take a decision on the same”
“We have received correspondence from the Premier skills team wherein they have extended the deadline, we have definitely not dropped out and will join the programme, he added.
However, there are question marks as to how the executive committees both old and new which hasn’t changed drastically as majority of the old panel still exists in the new one, missed the deadline on an opportunity which would benefit Goan football. The programme was not even discussed in the executive committee meeting.
When Herald tried contacting President Elvis Gomes for his reaction on the same he didn’t answer the calls.
The project is part of the Mutual Cooperation Agreement between the Premier League and AFC wherein it is decided that Premier League will collaborate with the AFC and its Member Associations (AIFF) in the area of social development through football on its One Goal campaign. The coach education programme will be delivered by the English Premier League training team comprising experienced coaches from their clubs and the Referee Development programme by the English Premier League Referee Head Coaches.
Now whether GFA fulfils the next deadline and signs up for the premier skills program remains to be seen. If they take too much time over it the opportunity may well be gone with the onus of training additional coaches and referees falling on the state exchequer through Goa Football Development Council.
