Jovito Lopes
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PANJIM: Goa could perhaps end up with just three teams in I-League from 2015-16, with the result it could be the last time that four Goan teams will figure in 2014-15 I-League, thus possibly paving the way for elimination of one team, as per the decisions arrived at the AIFF Emergency Committee meeting held in New Delhi on Monday. Goa had its official GFA representative in Shrinivas V Dempo, who is the federation’s vice-president.
Such a decision will affect Kolkata city only, meaning one of the cities of Bengal, whereas Goa, it appears, has been taken as a city or a venue as a whole, or else it ought to have been Bengal and Goa or Kolkata and Margao/Vasco/Mapusa. In such a scenario, it looks as if Goa could be a definite loser while it will be Bengal the winner, unless perhaps Goa offers more venues for hosting the I-league matches.
The AIFF decision is a follows: “It was decided that there would a cap of maximum of five teams from any particular city in I-League and Second Division put together. The teams would have to qualify based on the performance in the local leagues. If additional teams from Goa and Kolkata qualify in subsequent editions, those particular teams have to relocate and play in a different venue subject to approval of AIFF/I-League.”
“By the 2015-16 season onwards, not more than two teams from any particular venue/city would be allowed to play in the I-League except for Kolkata and Goa where not more than three would be allowed keeping in mind their historical contribution to football.”
As of now, there are certain apprehensions, real or imaginary, in the minds of football fans and some club officials as the decision lacks clarity. Goa, at the moment, has three venues, all cities, where the AIFF has permitted hosting the I-League matches. For the sake of debate, Dempo and Sporting could be Mapusa-city based, Salgaocar as Vasco-city based and Churchill Bros as Margao-city based. Then there are two more teams knocking the doors for promotion to I-league – Vasco Club and Sesa FA, which would mean one more Vasco-city based and Mapusa-city based teams, respectively, but due to the overall cap of five in both divisions, it could be at the most one team from Second Division eligible for participation for qualification.
Since Kolkata city only has been considered as one venue/city from Bengal where three teams can be fielded, Margao, Vasco, Mapusa should have also been mentioned as three venues/cities, whereas Goa has been mentioned as a whole and not part like Kolkata. With three teams per venue/city, Goa thus can have a maximum of nine Goan teams as of now, since the overall five-team cap per city/venue will not apply.
What has actually been disturbing the minds of football administrators and fans alike is whether Goa has been considered as one venue or one city because Kolkata has been mentioned clearly as one venue/city only. And, taking the worst case scenario that Goa is seen as one venue/city, then it could mean just three Goan teams from 2015 ownwards. And, it is this precise aspect that made some clubs worried and anxious too, much more so when Goa has become the mecca of Indian football and above all, it is the only State which has designated football as the official game. Putting a cap will certainly have negative impact overall for Goan football.
The case of Kolkata is crystal clear. Kolkata has been described as a single venue/city which can have the maximum of three teams. This certainly allows other Bengal cities to have three teams each at different venues.
The way the decisions have been drafted, these could make way for varied interpretations since what constitutes a city or venue has not been clearly defined and this being the case the negative doubts arising in the minds of football loving Goans. And, they cannot be faulted on this count.
One hopes that the Goa representative would set to rest the negative thoughts and clear the somewhat dark clouds hovering over Goan football after taking all the stakeholders in confidence.
