Avertano confident of big win in GFA polls

the goan I network

PANAJI

While announcing his candidature for the president’s post in the forthcoming Goa Football Association elections, former Navelim MLA and ex State footballer, Avertano Furtado on Friday appealed that the 160-affliated clubs make the right choice “in the best interest of the sport to ensure the younger generation come up and are driven in the 

right path”.   

Furtado, who decided to throw his hat in the ring six months earlier, revealed that it was on the request of many former players and the younger generation that he took the stance to contest for the presidential post in the October 28 elections. “During my 10-year playing career with most of the top clubs of Goa, I have managed to develop a good rapport with the team officials and players. To date, I still enjoy playing competitive football at the veterans level. More recently, I was in the goal playing for the Goa side against the Kerala Veterans,” Furtado said.  

“As a football professional, I have garnered a vast experience of playing which now motivates me to contest the GFA elections. In my current capacity as an administrator of a few clubs where we look after the well-being of senior sportspersons and veterans, I have learnt about a lot of difficulties faced by our past players and present players too. They have told me about their difficulties in continuing with their team in professional and divisional leagues,” he said.   

He also stated that his main priority would be to make available to players the football grounds, which have been developed in the villages, without them having to pay charges to the government for using the State-built facilities. Furtado laid out his plans for the development of inter-village football as he promised to look at incentives to ensure there is healthy participation at all age-groups where GFA organise their tournaments.   

While expressing confidence of defeating Churchill Alemao for the post being vacated by outgoing president Elvis Goes, he says that apart from having an own panel and committee, he will have a technical committee in place. “All international players like Brahmanand, Derrick, Savio, Mariano, Nicholas and all like-minded footballers who have done Goa proud and India too will be part of this panel as they have vast experience in the game,” he said.  

Referring to his earlier dispensation as the Navelim MLA, he said he was not one to make “empty promises”. “During my tenure as the Navelim MLA, I developed five football grounds, and acquired land behind the church admeasuring 50,000 sq metres for an indoor sports complex with a jogging track around it. The forthcoming National Games would be held here,” he stated.   

While revealing the response from various clubs to his candidature has been very forthcoming, he expressed his “unflinching confidence” that he will win the elections hands down against Varca strongman and Churchill Bros FC Patron, Churchill Alemao, for the top post of GFA. He also alleged that his rival for the president’s post is distributing envelopes to strengthen his case.   

Meanwhile in a late development on Friday, Furtado panel’s Executive Committee Member candidate for Ilhas zone, Jonathan De Sousa (Secretary, Dempo Sports Club juniors) distanced himself from the group, saying that he was fighting the election as an independent candidate.

“I am not in any panel. I will always stand for the development of football through my club Dempo SC. I will remain an independent candidate,” De Sousa said in an emailed statement to this paper.