GFA investigation into AFC red flag , leaves secretary Jovito Lopes in the red

 

The AFC highlighted six matches of the Goa football Association (GFA) Professional League and the investigation carried out thereafter by GFA has started to leave stains of how badly the GFA secretariat is being run by secretary Jovito Lopes.

 The first flaw in the investigation is evident in GFA”s official Note signed by Jovito and circulated to the Executive Committee members on 3/8/2020 wherein he starts stating:

 “It was on 08.03.2020 at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, Margao that our Vice president, Mr. Anthony Pango brought to the notice of GFA Secretary Mr. Jovito Lopes that there was one person in the Stadium's West Zone who was constantly on mobile, mobiles relaying the commentary of the match in progress Hero l-League match No.B6 – Churchill Brothers FC v/s Kerala FC.

 The AFC report was about six matches that took place in the months of November and December 2019 and had no bearing with the AIFF match held on 8/3/2020.

 The note further states: “Further, Mr. Lopes visited the Panjim Police Station as there were rumors that a complaint on match fixing was lodged by a Panjim-based football club. After meeting with two Sub lnspectors and the Head Constable it was ascertained that no such complaint on match fixing was lodged.

 Had there been a rumour would it have been the duty of the General Secretary to first get a written clarification from the club?

 The note lastly states: Further, our investigations also revealed that the contracts of a couple of players of a football club were terminated on alleged suspicion.

 The modus of the investigation that revealed that contract of some players contract was terminated on alleged suspicion is not revealed. The contracts may have been terminated but alleging suspicion on match fixing without proof?

 The last paragraph of the note throws most light on how seriously the GFA secretary took the matter: “We have written to the AIFF lntegrity Officer Mr. Joved Siraj on 09.03.2020 and provided our

report on the investigation carried at our end. We received the AIFF Report on 05.03.2020.

We replied on 06.03.2020. We carried the investigations and gave the report of our investigation on 09.03. 2020.”

 GFA completed an investigation on a matter red flagged by AFC in three days after having received the AIFF report on 5/3/2020.

 Interestingly , Jovito in his confidential letter to AIFF Integrity Officer Javed Siraj zeroes on one Gabriel Fernandes  and goes on to claim that the Genius Group that received accreditation from AIFF was allegedly linked to a betting company in the United kingdom and that AIFF needed to sort their accreditation process.

 Information accessed by Goalfest proves that the GFA has a contract with Genius Group  signed by the secretary himself.

 It is clear that the GFA secretary did no investigation into the  six matches red flagged by AFC and one of the reasons for that could have been because none of the six results raised any suspicion of manipulation to all those aware of football in Goa. The same could have easily been put in words instead of going through a farce of investigating a match that had no connection to the matches’ red flagged by AFC.

 Mishandling of the investigation and Jovito’s inability to reply to written queries from the Executive Committee members has widened the division and this is eroding the yeoman service done by GFA President to football for the last so many years.

 

 

 

 

ISL shortlists five practice grounds in North and South Goa

 

A Single window clearance by Government of Goa to Indian Super League (ISL) helped nudge Kerala to stage ISL 7 of season 2020-2021. “Goa was quick. The three grounds in Goa and most of the practice grounds are handled by SAG unlike in Kerala where not all grounds belonged to the government,” disclosed an ISL source on condition of anonymity.

Goa and Kerala were shortlisted to stage ISL 7 and despite the accolades won by the latter in handling the Pandemic, the former were also zeroed in because of the proximity of infrastructure to stage the event for the ten participating teams from November 23, 2020 to March 20, 2021.

“The three stadiums, the practice grounds for the ten teams, the hotels and the medical facilities are in close proximity to each other. That’s one of the beauties of Goa being small,” stated the source.

Nehru stadium in Fatorda , Tilak maidan in Vasco and Athletic stadium in Bambolim will be the three grounds used whilst ten grounds – from sixteen suggested by Sports Authority of Goa (SAG)- will be assigned to each team as practice grounds.

The three grounds selected to host the matches have all been used for international and national matches in the past and except for Tilak maidan in Vasco, ISL intends to augment the flood lights and drainage at the grounds.

“Five teams are going to be based in the South and five in the North. The organisers have asked for five grounds in both the places. The Vaddi ground in Benaulim and our grounds in Utorda , Betalbatim and Navelim are going to be used as practice grounds. The Nagoa ground- which belongs to the Panchayat- is being organised for them too,” stated Mahesh Revankar , secretary of stadiums with SAG.

“ The Poriat ground in Calnagute, the Gustavo Monteiro ground in Candolim , the ground in Peddem Sports Complex , the ground in Morjim and the ground in Parra have been shortlisted for the teams staying in the North,” added Mahesh.

“The organisers will need to work on the floodlights of the three main grounds,” informed Mahesh who negotiated with ISL on behalf of the government.

 “The organisers wanted only grass grounds.  The grounds belonging to Dempo SC and Sesa Football Academy (SFA) could not be utilised as they are needed for the boys from their Academy,” stated Mahesh.

“The ISL team will be visiting Goa in the first week of September to take possession of all grounds. They want to handover the practice grounds to all teams by September 25,” stated Mahesh.

 

Churchill Alemao on verge of inking Rs 95 lakh sponsorship deal for 3 seasons with Accord Sports

 Goa Football Association (GFA) President Churchill Alemao is on the verge of inking a sponsorship deal with Accord Sports  of Rs 95 lakhs to be sponsors  of the Goa Professional league (GPL) and all tournaments organised by the association from the 2020 to 2023 season.

“I have asked the secretary to send a note to the clubs today. Once the Executive Committee agrees to the deal, the agreement will be signed. It will happen soon,” said Churchill Alemao.

“Please find two documents from Accord Sports Inc for the sponsorship of the GPL. Sponsorship initially is for Rs 25 lakhs for 2020-2021 season, Rs 30 lakhs for 2021-2022 season and Rs 40 lakhs for 2022-2023 season (three years) “reads the note of GFA secretary to the Executive Committee members and presidents and secretaries of clubs affiliated to GFA.

The GFA, according to documents perused by oHeraldo, had received official written intimation of their interest to be associated from March 8, 2020. However, on August 4, 2020, Accord sports Inc revised the previous offer submitted to GFA and placed an offer of Rs 95 lakhs spread over three seasons.

“We shall pay the following amount for sole and Exclusive rights for GPL including Television-satellite/cable etc Digital, Advertising, outside stadia billboards etc, Merchandising, Fan Zone, Move Hall Screening and any other form of branding and advertising,” reads the offer from Accord Sports Inc to GFA.

“The mode of payment will be Rs 5 lakhs along with signing of agreement, Rs 5 lakhs before commencement of GPL, another Rs 5 lakhs after three months and balance after successful completion of GPL,”  specify  Accord Sports in their offer letter to GFA.

“Kindly let us have your confirmation and also let us know when it would be convenient for you to sign the agreement,” states the email.

“ I am extremely happy that I have managed to get Accord Sports to come overboard. It might have taken me time and my adversaries might have been trying to find faults in me and will continue trying. Goa is a powerhouse of football that has many companies eyeing it. Getting accord is just the beginning,” said Churchill Alemao.

“This deal I am getting is not to sell GPL to anyone. It is just selling the branding rights and despite the Pandemic, I think I have managed to get a good deal for this season. I am not technology savvy but that does not mean I will let football suffer. Despite the difference of opinions and delays, football will never suffer with me in charge,” added Churchill.

“We are in the final stages of signing the agreement and I think it will be unfair to comment at this stage. We will be happy to speak once the deal is done,” a senior member of Accord Sports disclosed over the phone from Kolkata.

Procam Sports from Mumbai were the sponsors of GFA during the tenure of former president Shrinivas Dempo. Transtadia was appointed as knowledge partners by Elvis Gomes and their collaboration was discontinued before the end of his term leaving GFA with no sponsors.

Most GFA Executive Committee members are receipt of the emails sent by the GFA secretariat on Friday. “I have received the email but am not sure how the Executive committee meeting is going to be held to discuss the offer,” said a member of the Executive Committee on condition of anonymity.

 

 

                                               Deliverable from GFA

1: Press conference announcing the sponsorship deals with Accord Sports

2: Conducting 132 matches in GPL

3: Office space for Accord sports inside the stadium premises for the entire duration of GPL

4: Wide publicity for GPL all over Goa covering all medium of advertising and promotion for the entire duration of GPL

5: Accord Sports will be part of all other Tournaments organized by GFA

6: All sponsorship and Advertising /Branding queries for GPL will be routed to Accord sports.

 

 

 

 

 

Soiling Goa Professional League with charges alluding to match- fixing or manipulation does not bode well for football in India

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) red flagging six matches of the 2019-2020 Goa Professional League (GPL) of Goa Football Association (GFA) is a good indicator that the governing body of Asian football is alert to manipulations. But, the six matches flagged just proved that betting in Goa is taking a professional tone with no evidence on match-fixing or manipulation.

The six matches signaled by AFC were between the stronger teams and weaker teams of the GPL and all the results were predictable and good betting house use experts to predict results to provide odds to punters. In these six cases, the odds markers did justice.

The AFC report discusses matches involving Dempo SC, Salgaocar FC, Sporting Clube de Goa and FC Goa – the four top teams – in terms of players and financial power- of GPL lesser equipped teams and the results of the six matches left none following the game in doubts of any match- fixing because the winners of all matches were predictable.

The AFC had written to AIFF Integrity officer Javed Niraj informing him about, “suspicious betting patterns indicative of match manipulation” during the six matches from October 16 to November 19, 2019.

The GFA investigated and zeroed their probe on one Gabriel Fernandes , who according to the GFA report was found relaying live commentary during an I-league match , GPL matches and ISL matches in Goa. Relaying live commentary can be attributed to changing the odds by a betting house but not indicative of manipulating matches.

Gabriel Fernandes, as per the GFA report to AIFF, was found at the Nehru stadium during an I-League match between Churchill Brothers FC and Gokulam Kerala FC   with an entry card issued by AIFF. The report claims that the card stated he was representing Genius Group as a reporter and that the same group had links with Betfair – a well known and registered betting group in the United Kingdom.

The AIFF, on its part, has in a statement stated that it follows a zero- tolerance policy to any sort of corruption in sports. “AIFF Integrity Officer Mr. Javed Siraj is currently looking into monitored reports from Sportsradar , a company engaged by Asian Football Confederation  in reference to fixing allegations in the Goa Professional League which is hosted and conducted by the Goa Football Association .”

Gabriel was seen in many matches and was openly in conversation over the phone. “Corner “; “Saved”; “8(jersey number of player) crossed “; “Saved” were words used by him on the phone. Like Gabriel , there have been boys who were giving permission by GFA to sit in the press box at the Duler stadium in Mapusa and they too relayed information through their smart phones to betting firms in the UK.

Relaying live information to a betting company in the UK is in no way any indication of match manipulation. No one wanting to fix a match would do so in public view. It was obvious then and has become clear now that information about matches of the Goa Professional League is being passed on to betting firms outside the State.

The results of the six matches flagged by AFC were predictable to any one following football in Goa. The score lines may not have been. But casting aspersion of match fixing on players, coaches or team officials will definitely not help football in India go forward.

Betting is illegal in India as in many countries in Asia. If betting is a problem, AFC and AIFF need to address that separately and not soil players, team officials and the sport with charges that allude to match-fixing or manipulation.

 

 

 

Hugo Boumous is gone ; the story of Sergio Lobera’s sacking does not leave FC Goa

Hugo Boumous – the star player of FC Goa during the 2019-2020 season- will be joining former boss Sergio Lobera at Mumbai City FC for ISL 7 and the reunion has rekindled the unanswered question: why did FC Goa sack Sergio when it was clear the team was set to win the League and the knock out titles.

Hugo was the star of the season and because of his stellar performance – till the League title was won – and was given an extension till 2022 with a buyout clause of Rs 1.6 Crore which is being met by Mumbai City FC.

With Hugo leaving, FC Goa is without Ahmed Jahouh – the star of the 2018-2019 season – and Mourtada Fall , the rock from behind  since he joined the club. Season 2020-2021 would have looked to start on a wobble for FC Goa if the pandemic has not left the organisers of the 7th edition still stitching ways to get the tournament started in its original format.

The pandemic in India has kept all in India guessing. The ISL has decided that the tournament will be held either in Goa or Kerala. But with travel restrictions still in place, it is still not clear whether  teams will have to field only Indian players this season or just one or two foreign players and the onus of coaching will be on Indian coaches.

When Sergio and the technical team left FC Goa last season, the first impression tried to be portrayed by the Club was that the parting was mutual until Sergio and his team released a statement that painted a different picture- one with many dots.

With FC Goa set to win at least one of the two titles, the fans and many in the State were left askance with the timing; letting rumour mills work over time and the silence fuelling it further. In the end, FC Goa won the League title but not the knock out tournament which in the words of President Akshay Tandon would have also kept the “accountants” happy.

In the end, FC Goa won Rs 50 lakhs and the right to represent India in the AFC Champions League by winning the League and lost Rs eight Crore. They got the pie but not the prize.

Sergio, according to one FC Goa source, was asked to leave because he did not confirm to the teams policy of nurturing talent. The management has a point on this and their former player Liston Colaco is proof.

Liston was giving minutes to play on the field by Sergio- in the three odd years he was with the team- and ended up scoring three goals in two games for Odisha FC when he went out on a transfer. Liston was a stark example of Sergio wanting to bank on stars and unable to harness stars.

There were many occasions when FC Goa was leading by three or more goals and Sergio never thought it fit to strengthen his bench. Liston was just one case. There were others who were there with little hope of getting a chance.

“Players complained to the management about his style of play. There were complaints in November and again complaints in January,” disclosed another source. Yet, FC Goa kept going because the results were proving Sergio right.

Every club wants to win and it is the role of a coach to conjure those wins. Sergio did it by getting the boys score many goals and football is about goals.

“Sergio wanted an extension of contract before the season could get over and he was not getting one. A coach likes to negotiate when he is at his best and he felt it was his turn and the management did not think so. Yet, he did not allow that to hamper the way the team was playing,” stated a source close to Sergio before his exit from Goa.

“The real trigger for his sacking could be the two complaints received against Sergio during two away games. The management took what happened seriously and decided to actually sacrifice even winning the titles,” stated an FC Goa source.

“I cannot disclose what happened. But, the matter hastened the decision of the management, “stated the source.

 

 

 

 

 

GCA upgrading indoor practice facility; readies pitch for Panjim Gymkhana

As restrictions to the Lockdown were lifted in phases,  Goa Cricket Association (GCA) has been concentrating on upgrading its infrastructure at the Indoor practise facility at the GCA Academy in Porvorim and helping Panjim Gymkhana ready its new pitch.

“The Executive Committee of GCA  , according to secretary Vipul Phadke, after checking the facilities at the Indoor practise facility in Porvorim , has decided to upgrade the same with new nets and new pitches. “ We have already checked the facility with our consultants and tenders for works have already been issued. We expect to eselect the candiates and start work soon,” Vipul told this newspaper .

“The work is expected to approximately cost between Rs 25 lakhs to 30 lakhs,” he added.

The Indoor facility in Porvorim is primarily used by the players during the monsoons and the technical and financial bids were opened on June 9. “ We should have the palce ready  by next month. We have devised plans on how to get players to come and practise in groups . However, we are aawaiting approval from BCCI in relation to the Standard Operating Procedure(SOP)to be adopted  ,” said Vipul.

The GCA has completed  the cricket pitch for Panjim Gymkhana  with whom they had signed an MOU during the reign of former President Chetan Desai. GCA  enlisted the work of Suryakant Naik- who curates the GCA pitch- and Panaji Gymkhana  is set to  see cricket matches in Campal once COVID-19 is a story of the past.

“GCA promised to contribute a sum of Rs one crore to Panjim Gymkhana towards  the construction of their ground and we are sticking to the promise. The pitch is ready now and it is upto them to decide when they want to open the facility,” stated Vipul.

“Panjim Gymkhana is the oldest crcket ground in Goa where players who represented India came, played and left with warm tributes to our cricketing facilities. We have always had warm ties with GCA with most mebers of GCA  being members of Panjim Gymkhana at some time. The pitch that has been prepared by GCA is the fruit of that association,” said Narahar Thakur , member of the Executive committee of Panjim Gymkhana  who has been appointed to liaison with GCA.

“There is a visible affection between Panjim Gymkhana and GCA and it will always bloom,” added Thakur.

“ Once the pitch is ready and all restrictions are lifted, the Panjim Gymkhana hopes to host some Ranji Trophy matches, start a cricket academy  and bring back to the people of Panjim the opportunity to watch top class cricket back and produce top class crirketers in the city,” said Thakur.

GCA has also been distributing cricket kits to children from South and North Goa.  Around 40 odd cricket kits have been distibuited to children who have participated in GCA tournaments during the season that just concluded.

Each kit consisted of three bats,four batting pads;four batting gloves;four abdominal guards;four thigh pads; three helmets; and one wicket keeping glove.

“ We are waiting for BCCI guidelines after which we will concentrate on areas where risk is zero and get cricket running by abiding by all the norms regarding COVID-19 set by the government,” stated  Suraj Lotlikar, president of GCA.

 

 

 

 

Gomantak Times euthanised during COVID-19 Pandemic ; last edition on May 31,2020

Valentine day in 1988 was special for many of us in Goa as it was the day Gomatnatk Times , the third English daily was  launched. Mohan Rao was the man at the helm – the first Editor of the paper  and myself  the first Sports Editor appointed by a newspaper in Goa.

Mohan had assembled a group of journalists ,some having experience in Mumbai and a few from Goa, along with a team of designers from Mumbai . Also invited was Ron Hendricks , former Sports Editor of Indian Express , my mentor at the newspaper in Mumbai.

Going back 32 years could have been  tedious if the sound of the bubbles created then were not loud when they burst.  The memories of the first night when the first edition was being prepared are vivid as the staff of Gomantak Times prepared to produce the last edition of the paper on Sunday , May 31,2020.

I am not sure whether the paper was launched on the day the Arlem Trophy – the then premier cricket tournament of Goa sponsored by Chowgules ,  owners  first owners of the paper – was a coincidence or not . However, what I do remember  was that when the lead story – of the Arlem Trophy – was filed, Ron asked to see the photos and this is what he said:

“What are these ants? Get me a better picture where the players can be seen and recognised.” When informed there was nothing better was available he shot back: “there will be no sports page on the first edition.”

The late Prashant Elekar was the first photographer appointed and it happened to be his first assignment as photographer. He had never clicked pictures professionally. That he went on to later learn and was good at what he did, is another story.

“Go to a rival paper and get me a picture. It does not matter how you get it . Get it,” Ron yelled. There were only two papers in 1988 and The Navhind Times still used to do blocks for their pictures whilst Herald used the advanced technology used by GT.

So, going to Herald was the only solution. Getting a picture from the staff of Herald was impossible. But, getting a positive of the picture from the dark room of Herlad was not that difficult. It cost us Rs 500 with an assurance to the bromide maker  he would be employed by GT had he been caught and dismissed. Ron gave the money and promised to fulfill the assurance.

A few days after the lauch , the bromide maker from Herald walked in to tell his tale. Ron kept his word.

The sports pages- I had two pages assigned to me- were ready by 9.30 pm, approved by the designers in terms of lay out. Moha Rao came in at around 9.30 – spirits all cheered and was content. However, my joy was interrupted by a loud thud.

Mohan had banged his head against the glass pane of the layout table assigned for the Front Page after seeing what Elston Soares had produced for the front page of the  first edition. “Change this”, he yelled, tearing the page created and asking the designers from Mumbai to do a new page altogether.

Elston Soares was known as Paku in those days and had joined from a English daily from Belgaum. He was the chief sub editor along with Bosco Eremita Sousa who correspondent of some national newspapers/weekly in those days.

Pal was the news editor from Mumbai and Pramod Khandeparker was the Assistant Editor poached from The Navhind Times where he was then the chief reporter. GK Mohan was the senior sub from Mumbai along with Francis Ribeiro who had been with the Herald before. Ramnath Raikar was a novice reporter.

After the first edition was ready we entered the bar near the office to celebrate and as was the case every day later on we were the ones to leave the place just before the first bell of the St Inez church tolled.

It was always the case of ‘the best (food and booze- this part imaginary) in the world being served to the best journalists in Goa. The bar closed down many years ago. GT never had a good life after it’s early days of glory.

Hence , it was euthanised during a pandemic .