GFA President Dr Caitano Fernandes elected Unopposed as Vice President of the Goa Olympic Association

Goa khabar:Dr. Caitano Fernandes, President of the Goa Football Association, has been elected unopposed as Vice President of the Goa Olympic Association (GOA).

Dr. Fernandes has been the driving force behind a period of sustained growth and ambition for football in Goa. He has consistently translated vision into action, building an administration that has delivered measurable results across every area of the game. Under his guidance, the GFA has organised in excess of 1,300 matches annually, giving players, clubs and officials at every level a meaningful platform to compete and grow. In 2024, that commitment to excellence was recognised nationally when the GFA was named Best Member Association by the All India Football Federation, an honour that reflected the standards Dr. Fernandes has demanded and achieved throughout his presidency.

On the international stage, his contribution has left a defining mark.  He was instrumental in bringing the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 to Goa, twenty-seven years after the state last hosted a SAFF Championship at the Men’s edition in 1999. The tournament saw international women’s football played in Goa for the first time and drew acclaim from across the sporting community nationally and regionally. Beyond SAFF, under his stewardship the GFA successfully hosted the Bhausaheb Bandodkar Memorial Trophy (2nd edition) and the India-Singapore AFC Asian Cup Qualifier, firmly establishing Goa as a credible and capable host for International football.

The financial transformation of the GFA under his administration has been equally significant. Revenues have grown by over 300 percent over the last eight years, a reflection of the commercial credibility and institutional confidence his administration has built. Total expenditure on competitions during the 2025-26 season reached Rs 1.47 crore. Across the 2022-2026 term, the average spend on competition leagues stood at Rs 1.49 crore, representing an increase of 147 percent over the previous term of 2018-2022, where the average was Rs 54.32 lakhs. Achieving this level of growth despite financial constraints reflects the sound financial judgment that has characterised his four years at the helm of the GFA.

Speaking on his election Dr. Fernandes said “It is a privilege to serve the sporting community of Goa in this new capacity. The Goa Olympic Association plays a vital role in supporting and promoting sport across the State and I look forward to contributing to that mission. My commitment to the sport remains as strong as ever and I will continue to work towards creating the right environment for our athletes and sporting bodies to thrive.”

Dr. Caitano Fernandes’ election to the Goa Olympic Association is a recognition well earned by the work done, the standards set and the results delivered for football and sport in Goa over the last four  years.