As said , Elvis Gomes was today declared elected unopposed
as the new President of the Goa Football Association (GFA). Not that his election or
win was ever in doubt. His victory was a foregone conclusion , it was the
margin or manner of his win that had football lovers guessing all over the
State.
For a man so entwined with the States administration ,
sometimes, time plays a crucial role. It did not for Elvis as the support for
him was at a crescendo at the time he filed his nomination. He was the first to
file his nomination and watched as many – now desperately trying to grapple to
some GFA twines- expected him to approach them , instead of
the other way round.
Elvis Gomes did not move. He stayed focus. Those with sense
, joined his bandwagon before they could miss the ship ; whilst those with
little or no sense tried to play their dirty games of up manship against a man
that has shown he is straight.
There have been people, through the years, who have
contributed to the game. Likewise, there have been people who have not but
managed to get contributions from the game.
People who used football to gain power
for themselves ; people who used the game to climb illusory ladders of
success. Unfortunately it is the same
people who thought they would play a sly game against Elvis. They felt , their
bastion was going to be circumnavigated by a man who believed that in the end it is God that you
are answerable to and through God all great things happen!
Strange things happen during election time. Even in sports.
Enemies of the past , become not just friends of today but great friends.
Unsuspecting people are used as prop ups and even the ignorant are slighted in
fear of being lost into oblivion.
Elvis Gomes knows who has played what games. But , Elvis is not a scumbag. Fortunately for
football, he is not going out to fish for revenge. There is a lot of work to be
done. To take GFA to another level is his priority.
The surprising question that emerged from this election is:
Why did Savio Messias decide on
contesting. Savio? Because it was Savio
who once asked Elvis and company to
rally around the then man who controlled football from the South and Delhi for
a while. It was Savio who got many to
rally against him. Strangely, it was Savio who fell to this same man’s shenanigans.
By filing his nominations at the last minute and by
withdrawing pretty late, Savio Messias hasn’t done anyone a favour. Perhaps , there might have been a few who
told him it was best for him to do it for
his good. There will be a lot of muck that many will start throwing
around now. There will be many who will try to take credit for Savio’s
withdrawl. Those in football – for the power they think it gives- will now
start throwing aperitifs at Gomes, for favours in the days and months to come. Even
years , for the Under-17 World Cup is around and Elvis Gomes is the man-
in-charge.
This man takes all the good willing along with him ,
irrespective of their past. This is the future of football in Goa !
