Goa’s smaller clubs may find it tough in Pro League

Panaji: The

Goa Football Association

has asked the state government to provide them with complete Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that will enable them to organise the

Goa Professional League

early next year.

The state association has sent clubs guidelines from

the All India Football Federation

(AIFF) which were used to conduct the I-League qualifiers in Kolkata last month.

“We have written to the state government with regards to the SOPs. The AIFF has stated that SOP’s for local leagues have to be finalised in consultation with the state government,” a GFA official told TOI.

However, the clubs have sought more clarity on the lengthy guidelines.

“The GFA had sent SOP’s of the I-League qualifiers to all clubs which do not hold good for Goa league. Another letter was sent to all executive committee members and GPL clubs requesting for opinions, suggestions and recommendations to draft SOP’s for the GPL tournament 20-21,” said general secretary of Salgaocar FC Adlear D’Cruz.

Local village teams which often struggle to rope in sponsors may be burdened with additional expenditure towards adhering safety protocols in time of the coronavirus pandemic. Given the financial constraints, some teams could also opt out of the league. In this scenario, the GFA will have to decide the fate of these clubs in the future.

With the Indian Super League (ISL) in progress at Fatorda, Bambolim and Vasco, training venues have also been used by the 11 participating clubs. The

ISL

will conclude only in March.

This has left the GFA to conduct

the Pro League at Duler Stadium

in Mapusa which has small player dressing rooms and other drawbacks.

“It is the duty of the GFA to draft the SOP’s keeping in mind the health and safety of all players, team officials, team staff which is of utmost priority, get the same approved by the state government as per their guidelines. They have to call for a manager’s meeting of all GPL clubs in order to have a successful tournament,” said D’Cruz.

GFA is yet to finalise the title sponsors of the Pro League. Kolkata-based Accord Sports Inc had submitted a sponsorship proposal worth Rs 95 lakh for three years. But the GFA has proposed some changes to the proposal after interest from another company.

“The GFA must come clear on the SOP’s. It will be hard for smaller teams to function at this stage with the economy and tourist season badly hit,” said one club official.