PANJIM: The postponement of GFA’s Second Division Under-13 play-off match between Salcete Football Club and YFA to May 10 has not been taken kindly by Salcete.
The play-off match was originally scheduled for May 4 after the league concluded on April 29. However, YFA had sought postponement on the ground that with eight of their players alongwith their parents having booked their outstation holiday tour tickets, it would not be possible for the club to field the team for the play-off. Further, the club had stated that if there was no chance of rescheduling the match, they were prepared to give a walkover. The GFA replied and it was only on May 3, one day prior to the original schedule (May 4), that they were informed that the match on May 4 was rescheduled for May 10 at 4.30 pm at Benaulim ground.
It was on May 4 that Salcete FC raised some points on rescheduling the match which they alleged were not addressed to by GFA. Consequently, Salcete FC’s Honorary General Secretary, Agnelo Fernandes, on May 5 shot a letter which stated “You have not addressed any points raised by us in our letter dated May 4. This is total disrespect for a 43-year-old club that has produced six former Indian National Team captains and over 30 players that have represented the country at the senior and junior level, besides providing an opportunity to more than 200 players to play for company and other top level teams thereby improving their economic wellbeing. All this without ever charging a player a single paise.”
Agnelo in his latter charged: “If Goan football has reached an all-time low in the last few years, is only because GFA has encouraged and patronised clubs and individuals who are in football for self-benefit.”
Whilst praising the GFA president for spending his time and money to improve Goan football, Agnelo charged in his letter addressed to the General Secretary: “Unfortunately, some members of a coterie that have been instrumental in the decline of Goan football are misguiding him (president) and the General Secretary, who is a highly qualified retired official of Indian Customs, a former national and international player and an intelligent football pundit, (and as such) you should not fall pray (prey) to these wile machinations.”
“Salcete’s decision to field the team in the play-off match on May 10 will be entirely dependent on receipt of the reply from GFA by 12 noon of May 8,” Agnelo added.
Meanwhile, and emergency meeting of Salcete’s Managing Committee has been called for May 8 at 5 pm for taking an appropriate action, concluded Agnelo. The president of Salcete is Armando Colaco.
