Panaji: Churchill Brothers CEO Valanka Alemao will challenge incumbent Goa Football Association (GFA) president Caitano Fernandes in a bid to become the first woman to occupy the top post in Goan football.Valanka is the first woman to be elected as executive committee member of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the first from India to be included in the FIFA women’s football committee.Four candidates had filed their nominations for the GFA president’s post. Two of them – Welvin Menezes and Omkar Vaigankar – have now withdrawn, leaving Valanka and Caitano in the fray.“I don’t think a woman has ever contested the GFA election, and I want to become the first to become the GFA president,” Valanka told TOI on Sunday. “We have to create a pathway for more women to step forward. I want to inspire women to take up positions, even if it’s, in a sense, a man’s world. It’s tough but I am confident due to the support of clubs.”Valanka’s father, Churchill Alemao, a former chief minister, was president of the GFA between 2018 and 2022. Her brother Savio contested the last election and lost against Caitano.According to sources, Caitano has been meeting clubs and briefing them about the progress the association has made since he became president in 2022. His report card shows 61 of the 70 promises being met and a Rs 70 lakh debt being turned into a profit.The report card also shows revenue increasing by 147% since the previous committee and grants of Rs 10.8 crore being secured from the govt, the highest in GFA’s history.Meanwhile, Kajol K Mangueshkar has been elected unopposed as the women representative in the executive committee after Manjita Mathkar’s candidature was disallowed due to the absence of a no objection certificate from her school. Returning officer Agnelo Fernandes said in his order that the school had withdrawn the NOC.As per article 1.20(g) of the GFA constitution, govt employees who intend to contest elections must produce a NOC from their employers.Elections will be held at Don Bosco Provincial House, Odxel, on Tuesday for the post of president, three vice presidents (one reserved for woman), treasurer and six other members, of which one post will be occupied by a woman.They will be joined by two Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) – Bruno Coutinho and Maria Rebello – besides two players elected by the state football players association.Final list of candidatesPresident (1): Caitano Jose Fernandes, Valanka AlemaoVice-President (2+1 woman): Andrew Ferrao, Antonio Pango, Babli Mandrekar, Francis Fernandes, Kajol Mangueshkar, Valanka AlemaoTreasurer (1): Ravindra Cabral, Schubert FurtadoExecutive committee member (5+1 woman): Anthony Fernandes, Constancio Rodrigues, Constantino A. Caiado, Cosme Oliveira, John Pereira, Kajol K Mangueshkar (elected unopposed, female representative), Levino Pereira, Manoj S Keni, Patricio De Souza, Jose Misquita, Severino Fernandes, Uday Lingudkar
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