The Goa Football Development Council (GFDC) has taken strong objection against comments made by GFA President, Elvis Gomes against GFDC and some of its members.
Panaji
The Member Secretary of GFDC, Aleixo Da Costa called it an act of frustration and unbecoming on the part of the GFA President to stoop down to such a low level by ridiculing and casting aspersion on the council and its members.
"The CEO of Sporting Club de Goa, Victor Fernandes and renowned ex-player Derrick Pereira are also members of the council. Does the President of GFA have no faith in the reputation and ability of these two gentlemen," questions Costa.
While agreeing that Elvis was the founding Member Secretary of GFDC, pointed out that the Memorandum of Association of GFDC drafted by the GFA President gives mandate to GFDC to liaise and advise AIFF, SAG, DSYA and GFA on issues related to the game of football arising in the state of Goa.
"So why is Elvis complaining now. GFDC is just playing out its mandated role further," enquires Costa.
GFDC is challenging the selection of the team not only on the basis of the match which the GFA's team lost to GFDC but also on the basis of the selection process. "I am questioning GFA on the basis of constant, continuous daily feedback which the council was receiving from the GFDC's Academy Team Manager about the methodology, criteria and process adopted by the coach during the selection trials," mentions Costa.
GFDC has been informed by the manager that the boys who came for selections from remotes places like Navelim, Quepem (including boys from the GFDC Academy) got anywhere between 3-10 minutes to display their talents. The final nail was the omission of Arnold Oliveira who has scored 5 consecutive hat-tricks in the recently concluded under-14 Subroto Cup State level Championship and selection of a boy who is the son of a renowned ex-player. When such conflict of interest has denied the star budding young player from the Academy his rightful place in the state team, GFDC is bound to question the favouritism and nepotism which crept into the selection process adopted by the coach of GFA.
GFDC has come to know that the coach of the state team is a serving employee of SAG. The father of the boy (who could not find a place in his school team) who is selected in place of Arnold is a renowned ex-player, an employee of SAG and is the coach's immediate boss.
"On account of this conflict of interest, GFA should not have allowed this employee of SAG to be the head coach of the team in the first place."
