Goa Professional League struggling to make ends meet

PANAJI: Elvis Gomes will have no honeymoon period as head of the Goa Football Association.
A day after he took charge of Goan football, he was left with a letter from Wilred Leisure, withdrawing from the Goa Professional League due to paucity of funds.
Fortunately, Calangute Association, who were relegated to the First Division League, jumped to his rescue by agreeing to fill the void, but not everything is falling into place.
Procam International, who have the marketing rights to the Goa Pro League, have told GFA that they do not have a sponsor as yet and may have to reduce the annual fee from Rs 35 lakh to Rs 25 lakh. Despite the presence of the country's four top teams, Goan football is not as marketable as it appears, observers say, but the GFA is determined to have a competition befitting the status of the Goa Pro League.
"We have to make the Pro League really professional in every sense of the word. It's true we have financial difficulties at the moment but all of this can be overcome. We are working towards it," said Gomes, newly-elected president of the GFA.
According to sources, TransStadia, who were competing with Procam for Goan football rights, have shown interest in partnering the GFA. No other marketing agency is being entertained at the moment since the time between now and the start of Goa Pro League -- likely to be August 24 -- is too short.
One innovation that the GFA is set to introduce during this year's competition at the Duler Stadium in Mapusa is handing powers, and tickets, to the participating clubs.
"We have decided to give a certain number of season passes to the clubs and they can keep 75 percent of the amount for themselves. The smaller clubs who are struggling for finances can raise some money," said Gomes.
"The Pro League is essentially a club competition and the clubs must take up more responsibilities. If the clubs manage to sell passes on their own, we will get better attendance for matches and the club's finances will be strengthened to some extent. It's a win-win situation," he said.
The GFA is also introducing a special VIP enclosure at the Duler Stadium in Mapusa with close to 150 best seats being reserved for those who can afford.
Sporting Clube are the defending champions in the Goa Pro League and will play Dempo Sports Club in the season-opening charity match on Sunday.