PANAJI
AIFF A Licence football coach Agostinho Antao has urged Goa University to introduce stricter eligibility checks for students representing colleges in the Inter-College Football Tournament, alleging that some institutions are admitting students primarily to play football without genuine academic participation.
In a representation addressed to the Registrar of Goa University, Antao said some colleges allegedly give admission to students only for the purpose of playing for their football teams in the inter-college tournament.
According to the coach, such students allegedly do not attend classes or appear for examinations. He further claimed that some professional footballers do not represent Goa University at the inter-university level because they do not have the necessary fee receipts and their professional clubs do not release them for university competitions.
Antao also pointed to what he described as an existing restriction involving professional footballers. He said I-League and ISL players are not permitted to play for village football clubs under Goa Football Association arrangements, with the intention of giving opportunities to young local talent.
However, he argued that talented students who are genuinely studying in colleges could consequently be denied opportunities to represent their institutions in inter-college football.
Antao warned that if the alleged practice continues, similar issues could emerge in other sports, including kabaddi, cricket and tennis, with non-studying or paid students potentially being fielded in inter-college competitions.
He expressed concern that this could ultimately result in Goa University being represented by teams that do not reflect the genuine student sporting population of the state.
As a measure to ensure eligibility, Antao has requested Goa University to make it compulsory for colleges to submit students' fee receipts along with the college entry forms for the inter-college tournament.
The coach has urged the university authorities to examine the issue and take appropriate action to ensure that inter-college competitions remain opportunities for genuine students while also encouraging talented young footballers pursuing higher education.
