इंग्लिश खबर
GFA President Dr. Caitano Fernandes elevated to Deputy Chairperson of SAFF Competitions Committee
Goa Khabar:Goa Football Association (GFA) President Dr. Caitano Fernandes has been appointed Deputy Chairperson of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Competitions Committee, marking a significant advancement from his previous role as Member of the Committee and further strengthening Goa’s representation in regional football governance.
The appointment recognises Dr. Fernandes’ growing contribution to football administration at state, national and South Asian levels. Alongside serving as President of the Goa Football Association, he is a Member of the AIFF League Committee, Vice President of the Goa Olympic Association, Board Member of the Sports Authority of Goa, and has previously served on the Goa Football Development Council.
His elevation comes after a period of sustained growth within Goa football under his leadership since assuming office as GFA President in October 2022. During this period, the Association has organised more than 1,300 matches annually involving over 7,000 players each season, launched girls’ U-14, U-16 and U-18 leagues for the first time in the state’s history, hosted major national competitions including the Santosh Trophy, AIFF Senior Women’s National Football Championship and AIFF Super Cup, and expanded football development initiatives across the state.
Goa’s standing within Indian football has also risen significantly during his tenure. The GFA was recognised by the All India Football Federation as the Best Member Association in 2024 and successfully hosted landmark events such as the Bhausaheb Bandodkar Memorial Trophy, featuring international clubs from Australia and Argentina, the India versus Singapore AFC Asian Cup Qualifier in 2025, and the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026, which returned to Goa after a gap of 27 years.
Beyond competitions, Dr. Fernandes has overseen substantial organisational reforms within the GFA, including the digitisation of player registrations, the opening of zonal offices, infrastructure upgrades at Duler, increased coaching and referee development programmes and the implementation of training compensation mechanisms aimed at supporting grassroots clubs. The Association also witnessed a significant financial turnaround, reducing inherited deficits while recording substantial growth in revenue and external funding support.
His direct involvement in organising the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 provided valuable insight into the planning, operations and delivery standards required for international tournaments, further strengthening his credentials within the South Asian football ecosystem.
Speaking on his appointment, Dr. Fernandes said, “This is a moment I am genuinely humbled by. To serve on the SAFF Competitions Committee as a Member in the previous term was already a privilege. To now be elevated to Deputy Chairperson is something I do not take lightly.
South Asian football is growing, and the competitions we organise play a vital role in that progress. I look forward to contributing towards strengthening these competitions while continuing to work for the development of football in Goa. I share this recognition with the entire football fraternity in Goa, including our clubs, players, coaches, referees, officials and supporters, whose collective efforts have helped place Goa football on a larger platform.”