SPOTLIGHT | Football is still very strong in Goa, cricket catching up: GCA chief

MAPUSA
Even as cricket steadily expands its footprint in the State, Goa Cricket Association (GCA) president Mahesh Dessai has firmly rejected suggestions that football is losing its traditional dominance in Goa.
Responding to questions on whether cricket is overtaking football in popularity among Goan youth, Dessai maintained that both sports enjoy strong and passionate followings.
“No, I don’t think football is going down. Football has a craze in Goa. And cricket also has a following in the State. There is a craze for football and for cricket too in Goa,” Dessai said.
Goa has long been identified with football, producing several prominent players and hosting top-tier domestic competitions for decades. The sport has historically been woven into the State’s cultural fabric, with village-level tournaments, inter-club rivalries and packed local grounds forming part of everyday life.
However, with cricket’s rising national and global profile, questions have emerged about whether the younger generation in Goa is gradually gravitating towards cricket.
Equal passion
Dessai dismissed the notion of a shift in allegiance. When asked specifically whether Goan youth were turning more towards cricket, he said, “No, I don’t think so. I find youth are crazy as much for football.”
On whether football still holds the number one position in the state, the GCA chief offered a balanced view. “At one time, yes, football was number one. But now there is a craze for football and for cricket too. Equal.”
His remarks suggest that rather than replacing football, cricket is carving out its own space alongside it. The growing presence of structured coaching programmes, age-group competitions and improved infrastructure for cricket in the State has contributed to its rising visibility. At the same time, football continues to command loyalty across generations.