the goan I network
MARGAO
Benaulim MLA and patron of Churchill Brothers Sports Club, Churchill Alemao on Friday confirmed that he was contesting the election for the post of Goa Football Association’s president slated for July.
Alemao addressed the media on Friday, saying, “Everyone and most importantly the clubs know what exactly I have contributed all these years,they are the best judges. They know my track record in Goan football.
“Forget about my association with Churchill Brothers. GFA is a totally a sperate entitiy for me,” Alemao said. “I have been already approached by the clubs from North and South Goa. I am keen to contest the election,” he added.
“The GFA is a body of football. Clubs being the member of the association, have their own right to support the candidates that they want. Unity is important and so they have asked me to contest. And I am just responding to the calls of the clubs,” Alemao said. “I agreed to contest because I know they are solidly behind me. So I am very serious about this.” said Alemao.
“I had always maintained that things were not being run properly and much less professionally. There has been a lot of acrimony in the last few years. Be it with All India Football Federation, SAG, and the government. Such acrimony is not good for Goan football. Obviously, the clubs are openly talking about the need for a change and that change is a must,” Alemao stated. “We need to take all the stake holders with us. I believe in delivering and not giving promises.”
Alemao also slammed the GFA for boycotting the World Cup selection trials of the national team for the U-17 World Cup. Alemao said that Goa did not have any representative in the national team at the World Cup despite it being a footballing hotbed because of bickering among
the members.
“This happened not because we don’t have the talent. It’s because of the GFA’s attitude. Even if they had some problem about a few issues with the AIFF, they should not have boycotted,” Alemao said.
