Daijiworld Media Network - Goa (MB)
from special correspondent

Panaji, Jul 17: Goa chief minister Digamber Kamat on Tuesday assured formation of a sports policy in the state to encourage ``all kind of sports.’’

"This policy will look into issues like financial assistance to the clubs and other related things,’’ Kamat said speaking on a congratulatory motion to congratulate member of legislative assembly Joaquim Alemao on being elected as president of Goa football Association (GFA), in the state legislative assembly.

"No sports can survive without government support…. Maybe cricket is an exception because Board of cricket control of India (BCCI) is behind it,’’ Kamat said.

The chief minister assured all the support to GFA to promote football in Goa.

Talking on the motion, legislator Churchill Alemao, who runs professional football team Churchill Brothers, has demanded union government’s initiative to promote football in the country.

"Cricket is being pampered by the nation….It is a game played by just nine countries…. There should be efforts to support football in the country,’’ Alemao, former member of parliament, who resigned to join the state politics, said on the floor of the house.

"It’s a shameful thing that Indian football team don’t figure in the world cup,’’ Alemao said adding,``the sports need national football to take it to the world cup level.’’

Stating that football runs in the blood of Calcutta, Goa and Karnataka, he lamented the lack of government support for this game.

Legislators including Philip Nery Rodrigues, Alex Sequeira, Pandurang Madkaikar, Manohar Asgaonkar, Victoria Fernandes, Francis D’Souza, Mauvin Godinho, Francis Silveira, Vishwajeet Rane, Rajesh Patnekar, Jose Philip D’Souza and  Damodar Naik spoke on the motion.