PANAJI
Goa State Football Players Association (GSFPA) president Micky Fernandes has welcomed the inclusion of former footballers in football administration, expressing hope that their experience will help address longstanding concerns and bring fresh direction to the development of the game in Goa.
Fernandes congratulated former India football captain Bruno Coutinho on his selection, along with Maria Rebello, as an outstanding sportsperson to represent players on the Players’ Committee associated with the Goa Football Association (GFA). He thanked the All India Football Federation (AIFF) for creating an opportunity for former players to contribute to football governance.
Fernandes said the representation of former footballers could provide a platform to raise issues affecting players and promote meaningful discussions on youth development, grassroots structures and the overall improvement of football in the state.
Emphasising that the development of the game must remain the primary objective of football administration, Fernandes expressed concern over the involvement of people without playing backgrounds in decision-making. He stressed the importance of giving those with firsthand experience of the sport a meaningful voice in shaping its future.
GSFPA election brings new leadership
The recent Goa State Football Players Association election has placed Fernandes at the helm of the organisation, with 98 of the 128 registered members participating in the voting, according to the published election results.
Fernandes secured 75 votes to defeat Levino Anthony Pereira in the presidential contest. Luis X. Barreto was elected vice-president (male) unopposed, while Maymol Rocky won the vice-president (female) position with 67 votes, defeating Michel Castanha.
Bibiano Fernandes was elected general secretary unopposed, while Ramona D’Souza secured the treasurer’s post with 50 votes, defeating Ricardo Xavier Jose Cardozo. Caetano Pinho and Adil Ahmed Khan were elected male members unopposed, while Reshma Souza won the female member position with 49 votes, defeating Girijadevi N. Desai.
The association will also be represented on the GFA Executive Committee by Fernandes as the male representative, elected unopposed, and Maymol Rocky as the female representative, who secured 65 votes.
The new leadership is expected to provide a collective platform for players to articulate their concerns and contribute to discussions on the future of Goan football.
Bruno Coutinho seeks answers over Santosh Trophy struggles
Meanwhile, Bruno Coutinho has called for a serious assessment of Goa’s declining performances in the Santosh Trophy, expressing concern that the state has struggled to progress beyond the early rounds in recent years.
“Why are we not doing well in the Santosh Trophy? We are going out in the first or second round,” Coutinho observed, underlining the need to build a stronger and more competitive side.
The former India captain expressed hope that the new representation of outstanding sportspersons would create opportunities for constructive dialogue and practical reforms. He said the larger objective should be to develop a competitive team capable of restoring Goa’s reputation in national football.
Coutinho also congratulated Fernandes on his election as GSFPA president and extended his best wishes to Barreto, Rocky and the other members of the association.
From representation to reform
For Goa, a state with a proud footballing tradition and a long history of producing talented players, the challenge is to convert representation into tangible improvements on the ground.
Better identification and nurturing of young talent, stronger grassroots competitions, improved coaching structures and greater attention to player welfare will be crucial to rebuilding the state’s footballing strength.
The participation of former players in administrative discussions offers an opportunity to bridge the gap between those who have experienced the game on the field and those responsible for managing it.
Whether this new arrangement delivers meaningful change will depend on the willingness of football administrators and players’ representatives to work together, identify the problems and pursue practical solutions.
For Fernandes, Coutinho and other former footballers, the priority remains clear: to ensure that the interests of players are heard and that Goan football regains its competitiveness and standing on the national stage.
