Goa Monsoon Premier League: Goals and entertainment as GFA experiments with new format

Mapusa: Even though it was early on a Wednesday morning, the players gathered in full force, and so did the administrators. There were musicians and dancers too as the first of its kind Goa Monsoon Premier Football League kicked off at the Duler Football Stadium in Mapusa.Organised by the Goa Football Association (GFA) in collaboration with Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam Social Welfare Trust, the Goa Monsoon Premier Football League aims to put the focus back on youth, besides promoting monsoon tourism in the state through integrated cultural experiences.On the opening day, it was largely about football as the new six-a-side format for under-20 boys kicked off. Sixteen GFA-affiliated clubs are taking part, and even though it’s a ‘league’ in name, the competition has a knockout format.The GFA calls it a festival.Some of the rules are straightforward, like the five-a-sides in futsal. Two halves of 20 minutes each, penalties if there’s a tie at the end of regulation time, rolling substitutions and no offside. Players took time to adjust to some other rules: prohibition on slide tackles, restrictions on goalkeepers and persistent fouling that could result in two-minute sin-bin penalties.“At this time of the year, with monsoon in full flow, there’s limited football activity, so we permitted this event that combines development of football with promotion of art and culture,” said GFA president Caitano Fernandes, who was the chief guest for the inaugural.

“The Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam Social Welfare Trust approached us and we had no hesitation in giving this (format) a try. Let’s see how this goes. They have bigger and better plans for the future.

”The Goa Monsoon Premier Football League is the brainchild of V.P.V. Yugka Murrthy, trustee of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and vice president (South India) of the Indo-Latin American Chamber of Commerce.“As vice president (of the Indo-Latin American Chamber of Commerce), I have had several opportunities to discuss football with people in Latin America and even Europe.

They always ask me why Indian football has not progressed, why are we not producing quality footballers. I know there is talent, but it remains largely untapped. Many don’t have enough (international) opportunities,” said Yugka Murrthy.Murrthy is hoping the selectors’ eyes can spot talent, who can then be trained as part of a “professional roadmap.”“In Goa where everyone breathes football and the GFA is an organisation which has a rich 65-year history, we think it’s the best place to provide the deserving players the opportunities they deserve.

We chose this format because everyone likes entertaining play with goals,” he said.On the field, some of the teams gave a good account of themselves with Dempo SC demolishing FC Tuem 8-0 in the opening game.Results (day 1): Dempo SC bt FC Tuem 8-0; CAC, Cansaulim bt St Anthony's, Marna 7-1; Patrong SC bt Chapora Yuvak Sangh 4-1; Guardian Angel bt Sinquerim SC 2-0 via tiebreaker after being tied 3-3 at full time