MARGAO
As the Fatorda police issued a notice to the management of We For Fatorda over the death of a young footballer at Fatorda last month, Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai and archrival Damu Naik were engaged in a slugfest on Sunday, with both blaming each other for trying to finish football and seek political mileage.
Initiating an inquiry under Section 91 of the CrPC in the death of 28-year-old footballer Allister Vaz, the Fatorda police has requested the President/Chairman of We For Fatorda, an NGO patronized by MLA Vijai Sardesai, to furnish the copy of the registration certificate of We For Fatorda trust or association which has been issued by the competent authority.
The police inquiry comes in the wake of a complaint lodged by Allister’s father Mariano Augusto Vaz, who had requested the police to conduct an inquiry into his son’s death.
The Fatorda police have requested We for Fatorda management to furnish full dates of the managing committee and also furnish the names of members of the NGO who were present to organize the football tournament on its football ground on January 24.
The NGO was also requested to furnish the list of football teams that participated in the tournament on that day.
The management has been further requested to furnish the names of the person, who had performed the duty of referee and assistant referee/lineman at the match.
Also, the police have called for the players’ list who had played during the football match between the Agalli Forward team and the Chandrawaddo Forward team at the We for Fatorda ground.
The police have further sought to know whether any permission was obtained from the competent authority to organize the football tournament at the We for Fatorda ground, and if yes, to furnish the copy of the same to the police for investigations.
Reacting to the police inquiry, the Goa Forward Chief said the former BJP MLA Damu Naik and his cronies are out to finish football in Goa.
Addressing football finals in Fatorda on Sunday, Vijai charged Damu and the BJP for trying to finish football. “Today, one has to catch hold of an MLA to organize dhirio. The same fate would befall on football with the police initiating an inquiry into the death of a young footballer. Damu and his group are behind the police inquiry. But, the BJP should know that Goa Forward will be the first to protect Goemkarponn and protect football in the state”, he said.
Reacting to Sardesai’s statement, Damu hit out at his rival for dragging his name in the inquiry by the Fatorda police. “The police have initiated the inquiry based on a complaint from the father of the deceased footballer. The MLA cannot accuse me and the party for trying to finish football. We are here to spot the talent and give them the boost,” Damu said.
