Shrinivas Dempo is GFA President

Panaji: In a close fight, Shrinivas Dempo was elected President of the Goa Football Association (GFA)edging out his opponent Sporting Clube de Goa President, Peter Vaz by 85-75 in a one-on-one contest. With cent percent voting, tension among the contestants and the members was rife in the air. "I spent 14-15 hours a day to work hard for this victory," he said. It was, however, not a bed of roses for Dempo`s panel as both his vice-presidential candidates, Vinod Parkot and Francis Fernandes lost by big margins to Elvis Gomes and Lavinio Rebello respectively. For the South Goa Vice-President`s seat Elvis polled 56 votes as against Parkot`s 31 while for the North Goa seat, Lavinio garnered 43 votes compared to Francis` 29. Apart from this, 14 members to the managing committee of the Association were also elected. Here again, the Dempo panel lost a seat each in the four zones. The notable highlight of the elections held yesterday, was the re-election of Savio Messias from Mormugao Zone since Dempo`s panel had unleashed a tirade against the outgoing secretary. With Salcete and Mormugao having a combined membership of 87, Messias polled 51 votes but was behind Lawrence Gomes (73) and Prakash Naik (54) while Andre Rodrigues had 48 in Mormugao Zone. In Salcete Zone, Schubert Furtado (54), Benjamin D’Silva (52), Anthony Pango (48) and Benedito Bishut Themudo (47) got elected. The North District with a combined votership of 73 (Ilhas 29 and Bardez 44) saw Welwin Menezes (44), Sanjeev Nagvekar (39) and Angelo Albuquerque get elected. From Bardez Zone it was Babli Mandrekar (45), Alirio Lobo (39), Uday Lingudkar (39) and Gajanand Kerkar (37). Among these elected members, Messias (Mormugao), Bishut Themudo (Salcete), Alirio Lobo (Bardez) and Angelo Albuquerque (Ilhas) did not figure in Dempo`s panel. A host of sports luminaries were present as voters, including AIFF Secretary Alberto Colaco, outgoing president Joaquim Alemao, Salgaocar SC boss Shivanand Salgaocar and noted commentator Lume Pereira. Following persons were elected to the GFA Committee: Shrinivas Dempo (President}, Lavinio Rebello and Elvis Gomes (Vice-President}, members- Lawerence Gomes, Prakash Naik, Schubert Furtado, Benjamin D`silva, Anthony Pango, Bishut Themudo, Welwin Menezes, Sanjeev Narvekar, Angelo Albuquereque, Babli Mandekar, Alirio Lobo and Uday Lingudkar PTI