NT NETWORK
PANAJI
In a culmination of distressing prolonged adjudication of the case relating to events that happened after the ISL finals of December 2015, the two Goan stakeholders of FC Goa Shrinivas Dempo and Dattaraj Salgaocar quit the entity on Friday, leaving Goa sad, as the two are currently greatest patrons of football in Goa.
In a joint statement released to the media Shrinivas V Dempo and Dattaraj V Salgaocar said, “Our families have supported football for over five decades and it extended itself to our association in the ISL. We invested in ISL because of our passion and the love of the game. We wanted to place Goa as a key presence on the football map. We have created in FC Goa a team with the right spirit and culture and playing football in the highest traditions of the game. FC Goa is a brand that has united Goa.”
The statement further states, “The developments post the finals on December 20, 2015, have caused deep distress to us, our families, the FC Goa team and Goans in general. We have received a copy of the statement of Elano Blumer of Chennaiyin FC conveying his regrets over his actions that occurred post match on December 20. In the interest of our innumerable fans and the team, with great sadness we have taken the painful decision to exit from FC Goa. We would like to thank FC Goa fans for their unconditional love and being with us in good times and bad times and coming in such large numbers to the Fatorda stadium. We would also like to thank all our FC Goa players, coach Zico and FC Goa staff and officials for their support, dedication and commitment and partaking in our vision. A special thanks to our co-owners Virat Kohli and Venugopal Dhoot, the government of Goa and our sponsors. We are committed to football in the future and offer our fullest support in taking Indian football to greater heights.”
