------------------------------------------------------------------------ August 25, 2009 - Goanet's 15th Anniversary
------------------------------------------------------------------------ GOA Goa Pro League sailing in choppy waters <http://www.indianfootball.com/>[image: SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend] http://www.indianfootball.com/en/news/articleId/1540 The hurricane threat over Bermuda Island has withered away, a popular tourist destination and home to many a Goan plying their trades in the tourism industry. But, miles away a man-made hurricane is set to derail the football in the western Indian state of Goa. A court case filed up a Goan club, Velsao Pale Sports Club, has meant that the upcoming Goa Professional League is on its hinges. The club, which takes its names from one of the Goan village in South Goa, close to Goa's only international airport in Dabolim, has challenged their relegation to the First Division League from the elite eight-team Goa Professional League. Goa has a four-tier system starting from the Professional League followed by the First, Second and Third Division leagues. Around 160 odd clubs every year renew their registration with Goa Football Association by taking part in the age-group tournaments or any of the division leagues. Goa which was liberated after more than 450 years of Portuguese rule in 1961 has in recent years emerged as a power house of Indian football. The tourist-resort state won the national-level Santosh Trophy this year in Chennai beating West Bengal; while Churchill Brothers SC, a family-level managed Goan club won the Indian National League, dubbed as the I-League on lines with the highly successful Japan's J-League. In the upcoming I-League four Goan clubs, Churchill Brothers SC, Salgaocar SC, Sporting Clube de Goa and Dempo SC will be seen in action in the 14-team league. The four will also feature in the Goan Pro League along with four other teams – Sesa Football Academy, Vasco Sports Club , Raia Sporting Club and newly promoted Goa Velha SC, yet another village-affiliated club from North Goa. But Raia Sporting Club's very stay in the elite league has been challenged by Velsao Pale Sports Club through a law suit. Velsao Pale SC, having exhausted all the legal options available to them within the frame work of the GFA constitution – Jury of Appeal and Arbitration - have approached the court in the lookout for justice. Velsao Pale's are contesting the decision wherein Raia SC have been awarded last year's league match against Churchill Brothers, with the additional advantage of getting three points and a three-goal advantage. The Goa league and I-League holders were penalized for fielding an extra foreigner beyond the prescribed limit of two, allowed in the local Goan league, after Velsao Pale filed a complaint against Churchill Brothers with the GFA. The state football governing body is headed by Churchill Brothers chief Joaquim Alemao as president and Savio Messias as secretary. Velsao Pale are contesting that it was not Raia Sporting who had lodged the protest and thus are not entitled to the three-goal and three-point advantage. GFA secretary Messias has said: "The matter is posted for hearing on August 25 and I am sure GFA will come out with a solution and the league will commence as scheduled on August 29," according to a Navhind Times report. All eyes are now on the court case at the Judicial Magistrate First Class in Panjim where the first hearing of the case will take place (today) August 25.