PANJIM: Elvis Gomes (Cuncolim Union president) was formally declared president of the Goa Football Association (GFA) at the Annual General Body meeting at Hotel Mandovi, on Sunday. He was declared elect unopposed. His official announcement signals a new step in Goan football.
Lavino Rebello from Anjuna held on to his post of North Goa vice president winning by 43 votes, beating Jose Welvin Menezes from Goa Velha Sports Club, who managed just 26 votes. Babli Mandrekar managed a distant third with just 11 votes to his credit.
Schubert Furtado was elected unopposed as vice-president South Goa.
GFA elections saw a 100 per cent turn out of clubs minus Churchill Brothers, who were declared ineligible to vote as they defaulted in clearing dues owed to GFA.
Altogether, 173 clubs cast their ballot out of the 174 clubs to decide the fate of one of the most important Executive Committees that will face the most demanding administration skills ever with the FIFA World Cup Under-17 matches being allotted to Goa in 2017.
In the elections for the six members from Bardez Zone, Gajanan Kerkar retained his post while Francis Viegas (54 votes), Raju Benaulikar (51) Domnic Pereira (50) Santosh Bandodkar (46) and Patrick (42) were elected.
Alirio Lobo who bagged 40 votes one short of Patrick D’Souza, failed to retain his seat. In fact, there was a recounting with Alirio doubting the count. But the recount confirmed Patrick as elected with 41 votes.
Elections were also held for the six members of Salcete Zone. The successful candidates are: Arnaldo Costa (75), Bishut Temudo (74), Anthony Pango (61), Jaju Fernandes (64), John Silva (59) and Antonio Leo Fernandes (55).
Earlier, Agnelo Albuquerque, Sanjeev Nagvekar and Welvin Menezes were declared unopposed as members of Ilhas Zone along with Lawrence Gomes, Prakash Naik and Andrew Rodrigues from Mormugao zone.
The panel
President: Elvis Gomes
Vice-President (South): Schubert Furtado
Vice-President (North): Lavino Rebello
Executive Committee: Gajanan Kerkar, Francis Viegas, Raju Benaulikar, Domnic Pereira, Santosh Bandodkar, Patrick D’Souza, Arnaldo Costa, Bishut Temudo, Anthony Pango, Jaju Fernandes, John Silva, Antonio Leo Fernandes, Agnelo Albuquerque, Sanjeev Nagvekar, Welvin Menezes, Lawrence Gomes, Prakash Naik, Andrew Rodrigues
