PANJIM: A candidate campaigning for the post of President of GFA has presented a detailed plan to develop the game at the grassroots and ensure the game stays healthy administratively as well as on the pitch.
For the first time, Dr Caitano Fernandes, a candidate for the post, presented a detailed plan as to what he intended to do if he was elected.
He said, “I had talked to various club players and officials and came up with a plan that touched on various topics.
“To me, restructuring the Goa Professional League, the youth leagues, women’s football from grassroots to youth and senior competitions and also focus on grassroots specific development is important.”
Farnaandes also talked about relaying an artificial pitch in Duler by July 2023 and constructing a roof over the North stand.
“I want to impress on the government to allot two grounds in each district exclusively to GFA and development of land adjacent to the the East and South stand into a state of the art revenue generating project,” he said.
Dr Fernandes promised coach development and referee education and development among other initiatives.
With regards to administrative changes, he said there would be a well structured and a robust football calendar, revision of all competition regulations and also active engagements with the government and clubs.
To ensure all these plans would be successful, he handpicked Lector Mascarenhas for the post of General Secretary.
Asked how he intended to fund all these initiatives, he said, “I would like the State government to provide between Rs 1.22 crore to Rs 1.23 crore per year and more importantly also provide financial assistance to all clubs once every year.
“I am in talks with the corporate world in Goa and many companies had expressed their interest in being involved.”
The presidential candidate also promised to not allow matches to be cancelled and plans were also afoot to take matches that were usually played at Duler stadium to village grounds.
