Churchill Brothers' Valanka Alemao writes letter to Shrivinas Dempo to ensure 2017 U-17 World Cup in Goa

Churchill Brothers SC CEO Valanka Alemao today asked Shrinivas Dempo, All India Football Federation – vice-president and Goa Football Association president to ensure that Goa is approved as a venue for hosting matches of the 2017 Under-17 FIFA World Cup to be organised by India.

Valanka pointed out that the championship will be played at six venues in five states namely – Delhi, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka and one amongst three states of Assam, Goa and Kerala according to the FIFA website. “Such a situation means that the passionate and football crazy fans of Goa might be deprived of hosting and witnessing prestigious world tournament matches at our own stadium in Fatorda, which has been renovated and refurbished,” added Valanka in her letter to Mr Dempo.

Valanka requested Mr Dempo to ensure that Goa is an automatic choice for hosting the matches due to the fact that Goa is today the Mecca of Indian Football, having contributed fours clubs in the prestigious National I-league with Goan Clubs – Churchill Brothers, Salgaocar FC and Dempo SC, being the National champions for the past five years. Besides, Goa boasts of the most modern stadium, pointed out Valanka.

Valanka asked Mr Dempo to also ensure that the training sites for the teams participating in the Under-17 World Cup conform to the standards, since there should be fully dedicated sites. Training sites should be equipped with at least one dressing room with lockers, showers, toilets, medical room along with the playground having a good surface.

“From amongst all the states Goa is ideally placed to host the group matches at Fatorda, which will be an all seater stadium with excellent infrastructure and good natural grass playing surface. We are far ahead of Assam and Kerala and bracketing Goa with the two states is unfair and uncalled for,” stressed Valanka, who reiterated that Goa is even ahead of Bengal where football is concerned.

“There is a lot of euphoria in India after FIFA awarded the Under-17 World Cup Football Tournament and it is but natural that Goa should be one of the automatic choices given its position in football,” stressed Valanka who hoped that Mr Dempo would work even overtime to see Goa is not denied its rightful chance to host four teams in the group stage of the 2017 Under-17 FIFA World Cup.