GVA ‘elections’ despite note, police complaint

Panaji: The rival faction within the Goa Volleyball Association is expected to go ahead with elections to the executive committee in the city on Sunday, despite a public notice against its secretary and even a complaint at the Ponda police station.

A big divide at the national level within the Volleyball Federation of India between president Avadesh Kumar and secretary Ramavtar Singh has led to divisions within the GVA. Secretary Santosh Bandodkar, owing allegiance to the VFI president, claims that president Irvin Soares – backing the VFI secretary -- has been expelled more than a year ago and now Shyamsundar Tari, formerly vice president, has been elevated to that post.

Soares, on the otherhand, has submitted documentary evidence to the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) and the Goa Olympic Association stating that both Bandodkar and Tari have been expelled by the all-powerful GVA general body. On Saturday, a public notice was splashed on local newspapers that “Bandodkar has been misusing the letter head and GVA seal for ulterior motives.” A police complaint has also been filed by Soares at the Ponda police station but the rival faction will still go ahead with the ‘elections’ in the city on Sunday since the police wouldn’t interfere in a civil matter.

“Soares has been president of the GVA for two decades, if not more. There is no progress and the game has stagnated. We need to have a new committee in place,” said Richard Vaz, president of Crown Club and convener for the meeting.

The ‘elections’ have the blessing of Bandodkar – expelled secretary or current secretary, depending on who you listen to – and Tari, both of whom are expected to find a place in the new committee.

“We have sent notices to all the clubs. There are 15 clubs who are with us and we will have a new committee who are dedicated,” said Vaz.

Whether the committee gets recognition from the SAG and GOA remains to be seen. Soares attended both days of the SAG general body meeting and as evident from the 11 executive committee members – out of 13 with two granted leave of absence -- who attended the meeting on Saturday, he has support from within too.

“We have requested the president of the general body to conduct elections to the GVA in January (2018). We have planned several activities too,” Soares said in a press release on Saturday.

The activities include a Goa State Beach Volleyball Police Cup at Miramar next month, talent search programme, all Goa volleyball tournaments across the state and an all India volleyball tournament in Chinchinim which executive committee member Fr Jose Antonio Costa offered to organise.