Panaji: The state govt has assured support to the organisers as Goa hosts the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) women’s football championship for the first time next month.Goa hosted the men’s SAFF Football Championship in 1999 when India triumphed under the captainship of Bruno Coutinho. Now, 27 years later, the state is ready to host the women’s championship.“The SAFF women’s championship will be fiercely fought,” Goa Football Association (GFA) president Caitano Fernandes told reporters on Tuesday. “India and Bangladesh are among the top 12 teams in Asia and took part in the AFC Asian Cup in Australia. Nepal also has a strong women’s football team and almost made it to the Asian Cup (losing the final qualifier on penalties against Uzbekistan).”The SAFF championship in Goa, starting May 25, will see participation from six countries with Pak opting out due to strained relations with hosts India. Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Bhutan will be the other participating teams.“This will be a high-profile football tournament,” said Caitano.The state govt has backed GFA in organising the tournament and promised all possible support.“We will provide infrastructural support to the GFA and also help with the crowd, an important factor in making the tournament successful,” said Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) executive director Ajay Gaude. “We can get students, players, coaches to the stadium. It would be a joint responsibility (along with GFA) to get spectators from across the state to Fatorda.”In recent times, Goa has hosted high-profile sports events, ranging from chess to beach volleyball, where the world’s best have jostled for honours. The SAFF championship is another “high-profile sports event.”“The chief minister and sports minister has always been proactive in promoting such sports events in Goa. Earlier, it used to be said that Goa is known for sun, sand and sea. Now there’s sports too. We will always welcome such high-profile sporting events to Goa, since it boosts our tourism and economy.“We have the infrastructure to host major events. I am sure when the footballers return home, they will carry a positive image about the state,” said the SAG executive director, who is also director, Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs (DSYA).The SAFF women’s championship will be played across five match days — May 25, May 28, and May 31 for the group stage, followed by the semifinals on June 4 and final on June 7. Two matches will be played each day, with the first fixture kicking off at 4pm and second at 730pm.
