Augusto Rodrigues
Goa Football Association (GFA) President Churchill Alemao submitted his resignation to secretary Jovito Lopes soon after learning that the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court declared that he ceased to be the President as he attained the age of seventy on 16/5/20.
“I had told the members during the last AGM that I would step down the minute the High Court judged that I could not continue. I have done the same because I have faith in the judiciary,” Churchill Alemao told Gomantak Times.
“I am out of station, but will be arriving in Goa soon. I will meet the other Executive Committee members and we will decide when to have elections. Personally, I would want the elections to be held soon,” senior most vice president of GFA Anthony Pango informed over the telephone.
The GFA constitution stipulates that the seniormost vice president takes over as president in the absence of the president.
GFA had during its AGM on 29/07/2018 amended its constitution in line with the National Sports Code that had stipulated that those attaining the age of 70 were not able to hold any post in the Executive Committee of recognized associations.
Churchill Alemao stood for election before he had completed 70 and during the AGM of 3/2/2019 amended the constitution quashing the amendment related to the age bar. The same amendment has now been quashed by the High Court.
“Everyone in India knows what I have done for football in terms of promoting the sports and in terms of even improving financial lot of players in Goa and the country. Two years and more of my time as head of GFA were crippled by Covid. I could not do much to improve the game during this time but need to thank Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for all his help and support,” quipped Churchill.
I had written to the general secretary that the amendment done in 2019 was illegal. This verdict was expected. I would still like to thank Churchill for at least managing to get Rs 50 lakh from Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and running GFA with the money. That was a good thing done by him
Babli Mandrekar, executive committee member, GFA
The Goa bench of the Bombay High Court ruling was over a petition filed by Salcette Football Club when Churchill took over as President. Churchill’s tenure had ended on July 31 but he had refused to step down on grounds that he was awaiting the verdict of the High Court.
Twenty-odd clubs of GFA in a press conference held recently had lambasted Churchill and members of the Executive Committee for keeping the clubs on tenterhooks with no decision of having elections and Churchill sticking on to the post to help his daughter gain a foothold in All India Football Federation (AIFF).
“I had written to the general secretary that the amendment done in 2019 was illegal. This verdict was expected. I would still like to thank Churchill for at least managing to get Rs 50 lakh from Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and running GFA with the money. That was a good thing done by him," stated Babli Mandrekar who is the seniormost executive committee member of GFA from North Goa after the demise of Lavinio Rebello.
