Need to check club players’ transfer rules

MARGAO, January 9: While the National Football League (NFL) struggles to assume a professional stature, the Goa Football Association (GFA) s...

MARGAO, January 9: While the National Football League (NFL) struggles to assume a professional stature, the Goa Football Association (GFA) shows how it could be achieved.

From the next season (1998-99) onwards, the Birla ATGT Goa Professional League will draw five top clubs from the State to play each other in a double-leg format which is expected to have far reaching consequences on soccer in Goa. The crux of the professional set-up according to Albert Colaco, secretary of the GFA as well as the chairman of the Philips National Football League, is the intended changes to player transfer rules. The GFA hope to implement these changes once the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) send their approval.

According to Colaco, the transfer rules need address not just in Goan soccer but nation-wide special emphasis on clubs involved in the National Football League. Colaco forthrightly said: “Today’s National League will not succeed unless clubs assure sponsors that they can sustain the strength of their squads for the next season. Take for instance JCT who are presently struggling after winning the inaugural NFL title.” Colaco explains. “They could not hold on to so many of their top players who helped them achieve success last season.”

Story continues below this ad

With JCT’s plight a point in case, the proposed changes in Goa are interesting to note. If the changes materialise, players will be put on contrast with their clubs for a minimum one year period and a maximum of three years. Contracts may be broken on mutual agreement. The system will provide players relative security and the clubs stability for a reasonable period. But would security cause players to become complacent?

“Perhaps,” Colaco explains, “But the Players Status Committee that would be set up would look into disputes. This arrangement is prevalent all over the world.

The GFA consulted clubs on the proposed setting up of a professional league in 1996 and met with enthusiastic response. The modalities were discussed during the 1997-98 season and a decision to qualify the top five sides from the premier league was arrived at.

Churchill Brothers, Salgaocar, Sesa Goa, Dempo and Vasco earned the privilege of participating in the inaugural edition of the professional league and will continue to do so the following season after which relegation will be enforced.

Story continues below this ad

Following the pattern of the NFL, the GFA league will stipulate under-19 squads to be developed by the clubs in question and a league would be run on similar terms.

Very importantly, the professional leagues in Goa will reduce the strain on players keeping in mind their NFL commitments. With the professional league restricted to just five clubs, players will be compelled to play far fewer matches.

Although the sponsorship package is modest at the moment, Colaco is hopeful that the professional league will gain in strength and stature in a couple of years. The title sponsors will provide Rs 12 lakhs but the GFA will also offer clubs a share of the gate receipts. With television showing interest, accordingto Colaco, Goa may just be Indian soccer’s guiding light in the years to come.