PANJIM: The top four Goan clubs namely Churchill Bros SC, Dempo SC, Salgaocar FC and Sporting Clube de Goa along with other affiliated clubs to the Goa Football Association (GFA) have joined in the protest against the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs (DSYA) who has granted permission to a unregistered and private cricket club from Cuncolim to organize a five-day cricket tournament, at the Cuncolim ground which could result in damage to the playfield.
The clubs raising their pitch for the protection of the turf, requested GFA to take up the matter with the DSYA.
Churchill Bros, Dempo SC, Salgaocar FC and Sporting Clube de Goa through separate letters expressed concerns over possible deterioration of the surface and possible injuries to the players.
Churchill Bros SC in a letter dated on April 9 to the GFA state “This ground was developed for football organization with a view of hosting practice, league matches exclusively for football.”
The letter addressed by Dempo SC says, “The prospect of the ground, refurbished to International playing standards recently, being used for non-soccer purposes has caused some concern.”
“Damage will be done by planting the wickets, bowlers’ footmarks etc. This decision will also set a bad precedent which will be taken undue advantage of in future,” read the letter by Sporting Clube de Goa while Salgaocar FC also echoed similar concerns.
