PANAJI: Former Goa Football Association vice-president, Mr Tony Remedious isn’t convinced over the inordinate delay by the authorities concerned in transferring the additional land adjacent to Duler stadium, Mapusa

, from the sports department to GFA for the latter’s expansion project at the Duler stadium, Mapusa. He felt that the GFA’s Duler stadium thoroughly deserved to get the much-needed facelift through the new project on the anvil, provided the land transfer happens sooner rather than later.
Although the land measuring 5,250 sq-mts, was already transferred from the Agriculture Dept to Directorate of Sports, some 2 years back, according to GFA, the process of further transfer to GFA, on a 99-year lease, is moving at a snail’s pace. “The reasons for not expediting the transfer are not known,” added Mr Remedious.
The GFA secretary Mr Savio Messias too seemed astonished by the strange delay. “The draft MoU between the government and GFA over securing the additional 5,250 sq-mts of land on a 99-year lease is already in place; mere formalities are to be completed,” Mr Messias disclosed divulging that the MoU needs only two signatures, that of the GFA secretary and the joint secretary (ex-officio), Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of Goa for and on behalf of the Goa Government. However, a top sports department official added that it is not a mere signing of signature that is necessary, but there is a procedure in place which the GFA needs to follow.
Mr Remedious adds: “It took a lot of trouble first to get the land transferred from Agriculture Dept and even the GFA president Mr Joaquim Alemao had promised me at the last AGM that the transfer of the land will be expedited. Also, Mr Mauvin Godinho, who was presiding over the AGM promised all to help. But there is nothing coming forth.”
“If done fast an additional space would be available for accommodating at least 1000 people and even the floodlights could also be put in place at Duler stadium,” Mr Remedious informed ‘The Navhind Times’.
“This is the only ground GFA has and the only one for Bardez people, who thrive on this venue to get their regular football dose of the season,” Mr Remedious elucidated. “Why is the Sports Dept delaying the transfer of land?”, he sought to know and questioned that football was apparently getting a step-motherly treatment from those in power. Mr Remedious also questioned the delay in installing new floodlights at Fatorda stadium, which he felt was affecting players, as teams were forced to play in scorching heat during peak season.
Meanwhile, Mr Messias disclosed that the plan for GFA’s expansion project at Duler stadium is ready and only the MoU needs to be signed. As per the plan details, the GFA proposes a Rs 5-crore project to transform the face of Duler stadium and lift it to international standards. Floodlights, auditorium, a 32-room plush hotel for players/teams to stay, medical centre, modern gymnasium, library, office space, cafeteria, shopping complex, new gallery, VIP enclosure, media centre and dressing rooms will adore the new complex at Duler stadium.