Times of India | 2 months ago | 10-09-2022 | 02:40 am
Panaji: Former Goa Football Association (GFA) president Churchill Alemao said he respected the verdict of the high court of Bombay at Goa and therefore resigned with immediate effect. The high court ruled on Thursday that Alemao ceased to be president of the GFA after he attained the age of 70 on May 16, 2019. “I recall what I said at the last general body meeting held on July 31 at Goa Velha. I had reiterated that I would abide by the decision of the high court concerning the age-bar and that’s exactly what I have done. I respect the verdict,” Alemao said in a statement. The writ petition was filed by Salcete FC in April, 2019. Alemao had argued that the age and tenure clause was amended at a special general body meeting in 2019, but the court said the decision didn’t have the approval of the necessary two-third majority. Alemao cannot contest any GFA election but said his association with the sport will continue till the end. “Football is in my blood and shall remain until my last breath, having been at the helm of Goa’s presently only I-League club, Churchill Brothers, which is in existence for the past four decades with excellent record. Moreover, FIFA, AFC, the whole country and several parts of the world know the contribution made by Churchill Alemao for Indian football,” he said. Alemao, who owns Churchill Brothers FC, thanked chief minister Pramod Sawant for a special grant of Rs 50 lakh that was provided to the association, an amount that helped GFA partly tide over the financial crisis. “There are several other organisations like the AIFF, SAG, DSYA, GFA clubs and officials, other government offices and several officials and individuals, match officials, sponsors, sub- committee members, executive committee members who supported me, well-wishers, office staff and others who lent their valuable support and extended cooperation of high order. I shall forever remain indebted to them,” Alemao said in his statement.
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