Elvis Gomes set to win GFA Presidentship unopposed ?

It is a matter of time. With all eyes on the World Cup , the stage for the post of president of the Goa Football Association (GFA), appears decked for  Elvis Gomes. “ Elvis Gomes is the only candidate so far. No candidates have filed their nominations for any other posts,” stated Mr Vasco Pinho administrative officer of the GFA. The question arising next is: Is Gomes poised to be elected unopposed?

Backed solidly by Goa Football Development Council (GFDC) chairman Dr Rufino Monteiro , Elvis is also  being extended support  by the Goan clubs in the I League and most  Clubs affiliated  to the GFA. Much is expected from Elvis by football afficiandos as he has already received support from the government headed by Manohar  Parrikar. Being a senior civil servant , his candidature has already been cleared quite a few days back.

Though the elections are due on July 27, the election procedural wheels have already been set in motion.  Justice G.D. Kamat has been tipped to be the returning officer. Judges have played the role of returning officers in the past and GFA seems to be following the pattern this time too. However, there is a minor hiccup, this time around.

Justice G.D Kamat is the current  GFA arbitrator . By virtue of his post – all disputes , if any , are settled by him. Hence , the question : Isn’t there a conflict of interest? Can a person settling disputes , run the election process?

“We have not yet decided on anyone individual to be the retuning Officer. The Executive Committee will meet one of these days soon to decide on the Returning Officer. I do not know who, “ asserted Mr Pinho when asked about the candidature of Justice G.D. Kamat.

As far as history goes, Shivanand  Salgaocar was the last person to have won the election to the post of GFA president unopposed. That was quite a long while back. Elections have been fought after that but with little acrimony. No doubt , there were straight fights and it was the best man that took the cake home.

There is a cake this time too. However, it looks like it is being surrounded by wise men. “ We are seeing a person like Elvis after a long while. His vision has a different determination. Times are changing and Elvis has already taken a march forward in these changing times,” retorted a former secretary of GFA.

Apart from youth development ,  FIFA in particular, is looking at community development as  an implement to propel football forward. Elvis Gomes has understood these attributes well and is seeing them through GFDC , of which he is the Member Secretary.  This is one of the ingredients of the cocktail that today sees him marching towards the presidency of GFA unopposed.