Goa MLAs highjack FIFA WC junket meant for state footballers

Panaji: The FIFA World Cup junket, which has caused a national outrage was originally a proposal sent by former footballers from Goa to visit Brazil to watch the match. But, the ruling BJP ministers and MLAs highjacked it. Three ministers and three MLAs forced Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to clear their junket file in almost total secrecy. Parrikar, who was once a vocal critic of such junkets quietly cleared the trip to keep his powerful MLAs happy.

According to a report in a leading Goan daily 'O Heraldo' the file that has been passed by the government was proposed by the Sports Authority of Goa about a month ago. The architect of mission Brazil was Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado, who in fact asked the Director of Sports Authority of Goa, Sandeep Jacques to move a file. The officially stated purpose was to study how traffic arrangements were done for the World Cup. These MLAs edged out genuine footballers who have done Goa proud like Brahmanand Sankhwalkar and Bruno Coutinho.

According to Sankhwalkar he had written to the government much earlier saying that in case there is a delegation going to Brazil, then his name could be considered. "I am hurt. No reason given for why my name was dropped. I am not just any footballer, I am an Arjuna Awardee," Bruno Coutinho, ex-captain of Indian football team told media, adding, "It is hurtful that my name was in the file but later changed with a new list proposed by the sports minister."

Parrikar said that the delegation was going to see how a mega event is conducted and how crowd is controlled for such events and how stadiums are built. He said that the government could not send bureaucrats as a part of the team as executive director of Sports Authority of Goa is on a long leave and the government can't spare the sports secretary.

"We are looking at this as an investment. Goa has declared football as a state sports. The delegation which is approved by the state government has MLAs who are actually footballers. Recently, we held Lusofonia Games which had Brazil as a participating country. The current trip is a continuation of the organisation of Lusofonia Games," said Parrikar.