I cleared file for Football Academy: Mickky

Tourism Minister Francisco (Mickky) Pacheco, who also holds the housing portfolio, is being blamed for the AIFF-Bharti Airtel Football Academy exiting Goa. GT caught up with the minister to know the reasons why the minister held on to the file relating to the land transfer for the academy.


Q. At the recent Dabolim airport expansion function, did Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel instruct you to clear the Housing Board file for land at Panzarconni-Cuncolim? Why did you not oblige Patel, who is also your party's leader?
Ans: Yes, it is true that Patel, who is also the AIFF's acting president had asked me to clear the file for the football academy. Upon his word, I wrote to Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) to sign the agreement. Also in the first cabinet meeting, I had a talk with GSUDA that any project on that land would be undertaken by Housing Board with GSUDA being paid Rs 5 crore. The file had also been sent for whetting. Simultaneously, Sports Minister Manohar (Babu) Azgaonkar moved a proposal at the cabinet meeting seeking the land for the academy.

Q. Was the issue ever raised in the cabinet? What was the decision? If the cabinet had approved the football academy, then are you not bound by this decision?
Ans: Yes, the sports minister had moved the file bypassing me. You have to remember that the property belongs to Housing Board which is my portfolio. This is not right. But for the betterment of Cuncolim, I had sent the file for whetting on February 6 with a letter to the GSUDA for signing the agreement. But the Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao approaches the media claiming that the file has not been transferred.

Q. Did the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat not discuss this matter with you?
Ans: Kamat did ask me and I informed him that I had sent the file to GSUDA for signing the agreement for land transfer. But it had still not been transferred since Joaquim (who also heads GUDA) had not signed it.

Q. You are known to be an ardent football lover and previously owned Fransa Football Academy. So why were you against the AIFF-Bharti Football Academy at Cuncolim?
Ans: Though I am not into football right now, I do love football and have realised that after many years of playing football, one could not complete one's education with there being a maximum 12 years of playing life. So also I did not disband the Fransa team that had bagged many trophies within three years due to any financial reasons but because the AIFF bends the rules as they please. The AIFF president Priya Ranjan Das Munshi has never passed any resolution providing footballers proper recognition when they have represented the country. Else, what steps have been taken by the AIFF to reward these talented footballers? Can they provide any guarantee of job security? What sort of justice is this?

Q. Doesn't Goa which is synonymous with football and which has produced many good footballers need an academy?
Ans: Yes, it does require. But football that is in a Goan's blood cannot be the only goal. Promoting and safeguarding the interests and lives of every player is essential as they have no job security. There are so many retired players who are now forgotten. Goa has produced many good players who are representing the country. But what can it afford them after their career is over? A good deal of money is presently being pumped into cricket that is enough for the rest of one's life.

Q. Did Joaquim, who is also GFA president and is now been elected to the AIFF executive, meet you and speak to you about the proposed football academy at Panzarconi-Cuncolim?
Ans: Joaquim never spoke to me. But I feel that Joaquim has malafide intentions since he has changed his decision of having a technical college in the area.

Q. Was there any request made to you by the Cuncolim residents? Did they meet you on this issue? What was their demand?
Ans: Cuncolim residents did meet me requesting not to have the football academy. But I told them that since it is your village, you should tell the local MLA. They claimed that this football academy decision came later as there was initially a proposal to set up a technical institute.

Q. Now that the proposed AIFF-Bharti Football Academy has been scrapped at Panzarconi-Cuncolim, what use will this land be put to?
Ans: Now that the academy is scrapped, I will have to send a letter to GSUDA not to sign the agreement stating that I will return the money back to the GSUDA. I will personally tour the area to ask the villagers what they want and fulfill their demands.

Q. Will you take Joaquim, who is the local MLA into confidence?
Ans: No, the local MLA gives one promise to the Cuncolim residents but immediately changes it due to his vested interests.

Q. Will there be a ground constructed there?
Ans: This is not the only land. If at all the AIFF requires, they can ask me as the housing minister, I have some property and can still acquire the land and hand it over to them.