Panaji: The Goa Football Association (GFA) has approved a plan for a 12-team Goa Pro League starting this season, paving the way for FC Goa to make its debut in the top tier of Goan football.
The Goan franchise in the Indian Super League (ISL) is keen on fielding its developmental squad in the Goa Pro League but is understood to have been put off by the Rs 30 lakh fee for a direct entry and a separate security deposit of Rs 20 lakh. FC Goa are expected to take a final call in the next 48 hours.

“We are (now) adopting a pyramid system (for competitions), which was mooted some years ago, after experts pointed out the flaw in the present formats,” said GFA president Elvis Gomes after an executive committee meeting in the city.

“In order to adopt the (pyramid) system, the committee finally approved the plan for 12 teams in the Goa Professional League, 14 teams in the GFA First Division League, 40 teams in the GFA Second Division League, and the remaining in the GFA Third Division League.

“This arrangement is perfect for orderly movement of teams upward. Earlier, there were more teams at the top and fewer teams in the First Division, which was criticised by many footballing experts. With this development, we have overcome the abnormality,” said Gomes.

The 12-team Goa Pro League will kick off in the first week of October. It was also decided that the Taca Goa U-20 (Division One) League 2017-18 will commence from September 18.

The season-opening Charity Cup clash was expected to kick off on August 15 but has now been postponed to August 27. The match will be played between Salgaocar FC and FC Bardez under lights at the Duler stadium in Mapusa. The family of late Kevoy Fernandes, a budding referee and coach whose life was cut short by an accident, has been named the beneficiary of the match.

Meanwhile, Duler will see the construction of two additional dressing rooms — meeting International specifications — and two VIP lounges.

“Duler Stadium will now be able to host more professional teams as the impediment of non-availability of good dressing rooms will be removed with work scheduled to start within a month. The project is expected to be complete within the next six months.

“Two VIP air-conditioned lounges that will have conferencing facility and a viewing balcony will be offered to club managements that play their respective matches at the stadium,” said Gomes.

This article was first published on Times of India on 17th Aug 2017

Pic credit: FC Goa Offical website http://fcgoa.in