Goan football season of 2019-2020 'over' rules GFA President Churchill Alemao

July 06, 2020

Goa Football Association (GFA) 2019-2020 season is well and truly ‘over’ if ones goes by the press note released by the its General Secretary Jovito Lopes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7EtFapFQgo

Lopes, who is a paid secretary of GFA, has in a letter circulated to the GFA Executive Committee members has said “We need to know when the season could be made operative for the new season 2020-2021 as the season 2019-2020 is over,” without specifying as how and who has taken the decision to officially end the season which was halted in March 23 this year on account of the Corona Virus pandemic.

A host of executive committee members have been in arms over the failure of the president to convey a meeting of the Executive Committee and had addressed letters on May 22 addressed to the President and a fresh one last week sent to the Secretary. The EC members had requested the president to convey a meeting digitally to decide on the fate of the entire season and the pending leagues and tournament besides other issues, taking into account the Covid 19 situation, but none of the reminders and letters evoked any response from the President and the Secretary, they lamented.

The GFA president has nowhere touched upon the idea of hosting the EC meeting via the digital platform and instead has stated that it is has had not been feasible to host the meeting on account of the COVID-19 Pandemic situation.

“The President, Mr. Churchill Alemao, desires to inform that in view of the COVID-19 Pandemic situation from March 23, 2020; the Lockdown, the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), the Government Order restraining meetings, it has not been possible to have the meetings of the Executive Committee,” Lopes says.

A host of decision pertaining to the upcoming season need to be arrived which needs the approval of the EC and Churchill said they will be addressed in due time without setting any timeframe to the hosting of the EC meeting.

“Several important decisions need to be taken, like the status, outcome of several championships/leagues; renewal of membership registration, AGM, etc and these will be definitely taken up and decided by the Committee. The clubs' interests shall be protected,” he stressed.

The President stressed that the registered clubs with GFA need not worry about the club annual renewal process as “their interest shall be fully protected”.

The GFA press release said with Covid19 cases increasing and transmissions in full force and a likely scenario of Goa touching its peak in terms of positive cases, Churchill has said this is not the right time to host a EC meeting.

“At the moment, the situation is quite worrisome due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and all decisions in the best interest of the affiliated units, which are very dear to me, will be arrived at by the Executive Committee once the situation improves in the State,” the President said.

“The situation is worsening in the State what with five deaths and new cases increasing every day and more areas coming under the pandemic. More and more people are testing positive, containment zones sealed. With transmission almost in full force and predictions that Goa could be touching the peak, the President emphasised that life is very precious and as such the need to take utmost precautions as well as strict adherence to Government guidelines,” Churchill added.

Churchill pointed out that the Goa Government in their circular has specifically asked to restrain from having meetings due to the prevailing situation in the country and in Goa.

At the time of postponement a host of leagues and tournaments were on the verge of getting over and a few were yet to start.

The Goa Professional League, the top tier competition did not get over and at the time of the postponement Sporting Clube de Goa were leading 44 points from 20 matches in the 12-team league played on a home and away basis.

Dempo were in the second spot with 41 points from 21 matches followed by Churchill Bros. 37 from 17 points and Salgaocar SC 35 from 21 matches. Churchill Bros, patron incidentally is GFA President Churchill Alemao.

The second tier of Goan competition, First Division League did not start when all sporting activities in the state came to a standstill on account of the Covid19 situation.