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Time of India
25-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
In three years, GFA has completed more than three fourths of Vision Plan: Caitano
Panaji: The Goa Football Association's three-year report card of its 'Vision Plan' which was presented to all clubs before the elections in 2022 has green ticks everywhere but there are red marks as well. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The green ticks are for the promises that the GFA has fulfilled; the red, not surprisingly, for the fields where the association is yet to deliver. If this was the report card, the GFA, like it did on Friday at its headquarters in the city, has enough reasons to celebrate. 'With the help of my executive committee, clubs and the govt, we have completed more than three fourths of the plans I had in mind for Goan football,' GFA president Caitano Fernandes told reporters during a briefing. 'It was a challenge to start implementing what I envisioned for Goan football.' In 2022, Caitano and the officials he handpicked to contest elections, knocked on all clubs' doors with a vision plan. 'This was unique, and something never done before an election of the GFA,' he said. As evident from the report card that was released, there has been significant progress. From a total of 70 promises, made across fields like revamping leagues, youth & grassroots, futsal, beach football, women's football, referee development, coach development, infrastructure, and administrative reforms, GFA ticked 57 boxes in green, for a success rate of 81%. Thirteen fields, marked in red, have remained unfulfilled, and it pertains to sponsorship income, success at the , 20 teams in each age-group competitions, minimum 12 games per team in women's league, insurance for referees/coaches, formation of coaches' association and organisation of a beach football tournament. The GFA has also not delivered on its assurance to have a roof over the north stand at Duler Football Stadium, development of land on the eastern stand, and working with the govt for a Grant in Aid scheme for clubs. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'There have been challenges, particularly on the infrastructural and commercial front, but it is safe to say that we have in some way contributed to the revival of Goan football,' said Caitano, adding that the feel-good factor attracted two of Goa's big corporates, VM Salgaocar Corporation and Geno Pharmaceuticals, to invest in top tier teams. Vice president Jonathan de Sousa provided more insights into his team's success, highlighting the relaying of the artificial turf at Duler, decentralising the GFA administration by opening new offices, implementing online player registrations, developing a new website and actively engaging the masses on social media. In the last two years, the GFA also organised a record 1375 matches on an average, surpassing the previous best of approximately 950 odd matches. 'We are on the right track and do not need to do anything drastically different in the final year (of the current term) for success,' said Jonathan. 'The first year was for course correction as we had to steer the ship in the right direction. I must put on record our appreciation of the work that the GFA staff and secretary Adlear (D'Cruz) has been doing, working till late hours. There is marked difference in the administration of GFA. '
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
GFA's Arbitration tribunal stays move on inter-village clusters
The Goa Football Association (GFA) will require the approval of its general body to finalise the new clusters for inter-village tournaments under the Private Football Tournament Rules Panaji: The Goa Football Association (GFA) will require the approval of its general body to finalise the new clusters for inter-village tournaments under the Private Football Tournament Rules. The GFA Arbitration tribunal, in its order last week, stayed the executive committee's decision taken on January 13, 2025, where they decided to amend the cluster pertaining to Salcete and Quepem talukas. 'The decision rendered by the executive committee at its meeting (Jan 13, 2025) is quashed and set aside and consequently the letter bearing reference No. GFA/2024-25/P/1837 (Jan 29, 2025) issued by the respondent (GFA) to all the presidents/secretaries of all permanent clubs, is directed to be withdrawn forthwith,' states the order signed by chairman Francisco Tavora and two members, Anthony D' Silva and Pritesh Shetty. Although the general body meet of July, 2024, authorised the executive committee to discuss and resolve issues related to cluster formation, it did not give the executive committee the power to finalise or implement decisions without addressing objections from affected clubs. Ten clubs -- Cuncolim Union, Chandor, Guirdolim, Mandopa, Telaulim, Navelim Villagers, Santa Cruz Club of Poitomado, Sporting Club Davorlim and Curtorim Gymkhana – filed a petition against the state body's decision. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo 'We demand that the GFA executive committee should immediately start issuing new players cards as per the 2016-17 Inter-Village private tournament rules and clusters and call an EGM to decide about the new clusters and new rules, which are set aside by the Arbitration tribunal order,' club representative Oscar Martins told reporters during a press conference in Margao on Monday. 'The GFA executive committee led by Caitano Fernandes was running the affairs as per their own whims and not the (GFA) constitution. ' Defending the GFA's actions, Jonathan de Sousa, vice-president (north), said the Arbitration tribunal has asked for the minutes to be ratified at the general body, while there is no direction for the 2016 rules to be followed. 'The Arbitration tribunal has not gone into the merits of the pleadings, but has merely delved into the finalisation of clusters, which has to be confirmed at the general body. The request for change from Assolda clusters came much before 2022 when the new committee took over. It cannot be attributed to the present committee.'
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Indian football in freefall: Goa FA blames AIFF deputy secretary general M. Satyanarayana as crisis deepens
NEW DELHI: Indian football's decline is no longer a blip; it's a nosedive. And now, in a strongly-worded letter addressed to the All India Football Federation (AIFF), Goa Football Association (GFA) president Dr. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Caitano Jose Fernandes has laid the blame squarely on the AIFF's doorstep. The formal complaint targets Deputy Secretary General M. Satyanarayana, accusing him of administrative failure, political interference, and contributing to the national team's slide into irrelevance. 'I write to formally bring to your notice the concerning performance and deteriorating results of the Indian National team that has left us in a precarious position on the road to qualification for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup,' wrote Fernandes. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. 'There have been reports that the preparations for the National team were not ideal and much of the blame has to be put on the administration headed by the Deputy Secretary General Mr. M Satyanarayana, whose handling of crucial matters has severely damaged Indian football since he assumed his role at the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in August 2023." The letter cites several allegations: mismanagement, a breakdown in governance, interference in technical matters, and even unconstitutional moves such as halting I-League relegation without proper authorisation. Fernandes warned of 'a toxic culture of political manipulation' that has hollowed Indian football from within. This institutional mess coincides with India's collapse on the pitch. The senior men's national team suffered a disastrous 0-1 loss to lower-ranked Hong Kong in a crucial 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifier just a fortnight ago. The result pushed India to 133rd in the latest FIFA rankings, just two spots off their worst in a decade. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In the Asian Football Confederation zone, India now rank 24th out of 46, behind the likes of Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, and Vietnam. The manner of the defeat only added salt to the wound. After creating a few promising chances in the first half, India conceded deep into injury time. A rash challenge by goalkeeper Vishal Kaith on Hong Kong's Michael Udebuluzor led to a penalty, which Stefan Pereira calmly converted in the 94th minute. Poll How do you feel about the future of Indian football? Optimistic Pessimistic Indifferent India's finishing woes were again on display as Ashique Kuruniyan missed from close range, and even the returning Sunil Chhetri failed to connect cleanly from six yards out. On that, scoring just five goals in two years highlights how significantly the Indian forwards have declined over time. 40-year-old Chhetri's comeback from retirement had sparked brief hope, but the veteran's presence alone hasn't been enough to lift the team that has won just one of their last 16 games across competitions. Off the field, uncertainty continues to cloud the national setup. Former head coach Igor Stimac's messy exit last year was followed by the appointment of Manolo Marquez, who has since juggled dual responsibilities as India coach and FC Goa manager. 'Cricketers Aren't Cattle... ': Harish Thawani on the IPL and Business of Indian Cricket Once considered an emerging footballing nation, having reached a FIFA ranking of 96 in 2018 and competing closely with sides like Jordan, India now face a grim reality check. The same Jordan side, which India narrowly lost to in 2018, has since reached the final of the AFC Asian Cup and qualified for the 2026 World Cup. India, meanwhile, are struggling to get the ball into the back of the net.
