MARGAO
A keenly contested triangular fight is on for the North Goa Vice President’s post however Jonathan De Sousa, Head of Football Operations at FC Goa remains unperturbed.
“My work for the last four years has been noticed by everyone. Wherever I go people congratulate me for upholding the GFA Constitution, fighting against the malaise of match-fixing and trying to get revenue for the GFA,” he said on his campaign trail in North Goa.
Jonathan was instrumental in battling the legal case to uphold the GFA Constitution in the High Court of Bombay at Goa. He was also the one who wrote to FIFA and AFC to institute an inquiry into the match-fixing saga.
In 2020 he also brought in sponsorship for the Goa Professional League which was turned down by the then GFA administration. “I tried my best to help wherever possible, however, the GFA administration had other ideas. I do not wish to dwell into the past but I am looking forward to a bright future for the GFA with Caitano as the President" he quipped.
When quizzed on why he is contesting for two posts, Jonathan explained that this was nothing new. "In 2014, Welvin Menezes too contested for both posts. I had initially filed my nomination as a member, however many clubs including one of my opponents Victor Fernandes forced me to contest as Vice President. When he realised that I was not supporting his Presidential candidate he filed his nomination against me five minutes before nominations could end."
"Now that everyone has realised that I am in a winning position, a smear campaign has been started against me to confuse the voters. For the GFA to run in a smooth manner, it is important that the President and both the Vice Presidents are united and in sync. GFA has suffered due to fractionalism and groupism in the past,” he stated.
“My work for the last four years has been noticed by everyone. Wherever I go people congratulate me for upholding the GFA Constitution, fighting against the malaise of match-fixing and trying to get revenue for the GFA,” he said on his campaign trail in North Goa.
Jonathan was instrumental in battling the legal case to uphold the GFA Constitution in the High Court of Bombay at Goa. He was also the one who wrote to FIFA and AFC to institute an inquiry into the match-fixing saga.
In 2020 he also brought in sponsorship for the Goa Professional League which was turned down by the then GFA administration. “I tried my best to help wherever possible, however, the GFA administration had other ideas. I do not wish to dwell into the past but I am looking forward to a bright future for the GFA with Caitano as the President" he quipped.
When quizzed on why he is contesting for two posts, Jonathan explained that this was nothing new. "In 2014, Welvin Menezes too contested for both posts. I had initially filed my nomination as a member, however many clubs including one of my opponents Victor Fernandes forced me to contest as Vice President. When he realised that I was not supporting his Presidential candidate he filed his nomination against me five minutes before nominations could end."
"Now that everyone has realised that I am in a winning position, a smear campaign has been started against me to confuse the voters. For the GFA to run in a smooth manner, it is important that the President and both the Vice Presidents are united and in sync. GFA has suffered due to fractionalism and groupism in the past,” he stated.
