With time ticking, Alemao faces stiff football challenge

| OCTOBER 29, 2018, 03:56 AM IST

Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao may have miserably lost to former Navelim MLA Avertano Furtado in the 2012 Assembly elections in Navelim constituency, but on Sunday the veteran politico put one past the former goalkeeper to settle scores and win the presidential election of the Goa Football Association in indomitable style. And contrary to expectations of a keenly fought contest, Alemao walked away with an easy 100-56 margin.

Alemao’s contribution to Goan football has been enormous and he has been in the thick of sporting action across decades. From holding the sports minister’s portfolio to successfully running a club – Churchill Bros for over four decades, Alemao has come a long way. Managing a club is not an easy job any more, more especially when there are foreign recruits and high payouts involved. The road to glory involves big money and with sponsors hard to come by, it makes survival even tougher.

Goan football has been on the decline for more than a decade. The state has failed to produce big names in the game in recent times, a sport which Goa has always been synonymous with. Footballers like Nicholas Pereira, Brahmanand Shankhwalkar, Bernard Pereira, Camilo Gonsalves, Bruno Coutinho and several others are now part of Goan folklore. The supply has stopped abruptly. Despite Goa boasting of some of the best infrastructure in the country, footballers have shied away from the game and the love for local football has died down.

Alemao faces some stiff challenges ahead. As time runs out with an ageing Alemao turning 70 in May 2019, it would be touch and go for the seasoned campaigner. A lot needs to change in Goan football and work will have to start at the grass-roots. Sitting on past laurels will not help because the template has changed over the years and the sport has evolved. Alemao may boast about his short stint as the chief minister during the PDF government in Goa, but managing the sport is a different ball game.

Alemao will have to take all stakeholders and clubs 

on board to set a new roadmap – this would include even the 56 clubs which have voted against him. Apart from this, there is a need to strengthen relationships with the All India Football Federation, the State government, the Sports Authority of Goa and GFDC, besides exploring ways to rake in the funds.

While the State government has been prompt enough to sanction Churchill Bros a grant under its financial assistance scheme to football clubs, what remains to be seen is how the NCP MLA, amid volatile political equations, curries favour with the ruling dispensation to carry his plans forward.

For Alemao, the time starts now and the clock is ticking. He will have an advantage in Valanka, the CEO of Churchill Bros, who is most likely to do most of the scheming. A new kick-off awaits Goan football. It only remains to be seen if 

the veteran politician can score a much-needed goal on 

this turf.

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