Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday blamed Goa Football Association (GFA) for their obstinate stand, which led to not a single player from the State being selected in the national squad for the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The GFA officials had ego issues with the parent body AIFF, which led to GFA boycotting the U-17 trials two years back when Nicolai Adam was the coach.
Taking a dig at GFA brass, Mr. Parrikar lamented that “The GFA should not have boycotted the (U-17) World Cup trials, two years back under erstwhile Indian coach Nicolai Adam. I believe that the U-17 World Cup should have been above ego issues. Because of the tussle, there is no (Goan) player in the U-17 team.”
The CM was speaking after awarding the Dilip Sardesai Award for Excellence in Sports. The function was held at a ceremony in the multipurpose hall of Directorate of Art and Culture, Patto.
The award given by Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs (DSYA), carried a purse of ₹2 lakh, a bronze plaque and a citation. Taekwondo player P. Anand became the 8th receipient of the Award, which was initiated in 2008.
Also present at the award ceremony were Sports Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar, Director of Sports V M Prabhudesai, Prof. Nandini Sardesai, wife of late Dilip Sardesai, the legendary Indian cricketer, in whose memory the award has been instituted and given every year for the best sportsperson in the State.