Team Herald
PANJIM: The last Goa Football Association elections in 2014 had sailed through smoothly with the current President Elvis Gomes becoming the unchallenged head of Goan football.
But things have taken a political turn with the elections scheduled later this month after delay due to amendments in the constitution with the introduction of sports code becoming a game changer with restrictions coming in on age, tenure and procedure for conduct of elections coming into force.
With Avertano Furtado and Churchill Alemao locked for the battle to be successor to the Presidents chair currently held by Elvis Gomes, the GFA elections will be an interesting affair to watch.
On the last day set for withdrawal it was expected that some in the fray would be withdrawing, but the battle for the executive committee members intensified with no withdrawals received.
Office of the Returning Officer Adv John Abreu Lobo informed that Salcete was left with 10 candidates for seven slots. Bardez has nine candidates for five slots and Ilhas has seven candidates for four seats.
For the post of two Vice Presidents there are two candidates in each district with first time contestant Angelo Albuquerque and long time VP Lavinio Rebelo vying for the lone seat.
In South, both –Anthony Pango and Valente Rebelo –are first time contenders. Meanwhile sources in the know said that Arnaldo Costa whose candidature was set aside by the Returning Officer based on a complaint is expected to throw a legal challenge in the coming days. The applicability of the Returning Officer’s order against him to other similarly placed persons in the fray was not ruled out said the source on condition of anonymity. The elections scheduled for October 28, will usher in a new President, two Vice Presidents and 18 members.
For the first time the amended constitution has introduced a reservation of seat to clubs from talukas other than Salcete, Bardez Tiswadi and Mormugao by direct nomination.
It’s been learnt that Mormugao has no contest after RO disqualified the third candidate Andrew Ferrao, which meant Adlear D’Cruz and Francisco Nunes are unopposed.
