Goa Football Association elections: Churchill, brothers triumph

PANAJI: The man known to many outside the state as a “football wala” has finally been handed the keys to Goan

football

.

Churchill Alemao

, president and owner of the acclaimed Churchill Brothers SC, was voted as president of the Goa Football Association (

GFA

) after edging out his political rival and former fisheries minister, Avertano Furtado, during elections in the city on Sunday.

Alemao secured 100 of the 156 valid votes that were polled on Sunday, making early-predictions of a close contest, appear too farfetched. When counting started, Avertano picked up five of the first eight votes, giving an early indication of a close contest. But by the time the first 40 votes were counted, Alemao had already accumulated 24, making it difficult for his rival to make a comeback.

In the end, it was a no contest.

“Many wondered what would happen in case it was a tie. But how can this be tied when there is heavyweight on one side and lightweight at the other end. If two heavyweights were contesting, there could have been a closer contest,” Alemao told reporters after his triumph.

The newly-elected GFA president was expecting even more votes after initially calculating 120 clubs to have backed him. That wasn’t the case, though.

“I have been running my football club for four decades. I should have been elected unopposed (for my contribution to Goan football). The opposition tried a lot to push me out; (WhatsApp) messages were sent across, the Congress also backed him,” said Alemao.

Alemao’s biggest influence was seen in Salcete taluka where all of his six candidates were elected. Anthony Leo Fernandes, Dionisio Dias, Cosme Oliveira, Jose Santarita Coelho, John Silva and Jaju Fernandes occupied six of the seven executive committee seats while Prakash Desai was the lone victor from Furtado’s panel. “If they had not disqualified Arnald (Costa), it would have been a clean sweep,” said Alemao.

Even in Bardez, it was Alemao all the way. Backed by Lavinio Rebello – who himself scored a comprehensive 55-21 victory over Angelo Albuquerque for the vice-president’s post in north Goa – he suffered just one reverse, as four of the five seats were captured by his men. Babli Mandrekar, Dominic Pereira, Gregory D’Souza and John Fernandes were clear winners, while Miguel Gonsalves was the lone member from the opposing panel.

In Ilhas, though, Alemao suffered the biggest reverse as Jonathan de Sousa, Maurice Almeida and Welvin Menezes were elected. From the three members that Alemao had chosen for this zone, only one – Francisco Araujo – pulled through.

“I am sad that Digvijai (Velingkar) lost in Ilhas. He was busy with me and couldn’t pay much attention here,” he said.

When Alemao’s choice for the vice-president’s post from south Goa, Valente Fernandes, lost against Anthonio Pango, alarm bells started ringing. It was, however, too close a contest with Pango eventually edging out the former Dempo SC midfielder 43-38.

“As GFA president, I have lot of work to do. I want to revive the clubs who are struggling due to finances, even if I have to contribute from my own pocket. I don’t want anything from the GFA. I am here to give. Forget the elections now, I want to work with the entire executive committee. We will take football forward,” said Alemao.

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