Valanka Alemao (CEO, Churchill Brothers SC) today asked Shrinivas Dempo (Vice President, All India Football Federation & President, Goa Football Association) to ensure that Goa is approved as a venue for hosting FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 matches.

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 Shrinivas Dempo.

Valanka requested 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 I-league with Goan Clubs Churchill Brothers SC, Salgaocar FC, Dempo SC and Sporting Clube de Goa. Besides, Goa boosts of the most modern stadium, pointed out Valanka.

Valanka asked Dempo to also ensure that the training sites for the teams participating in the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 confirm 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 Shrinivas Dempo would work even overtime to see Goa is not denied its rightful chance to host four teams in the group stage of the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017.