Goa Football Association

History

The Goa Football Association () was founded on 22 December 1959 by Lt. Joao Luis Aranha, a Portuguese policeman and sports administrator stationed in Portuguese India. Until then sports in Goa was organised by Associacao de Futebol da India Portuguesa (1939–1949) and Conselhos de Desportos da India (1949–1959). Aranha became the first president of GFA, with Dr Gustavo Monteiro being the vice president, and Peter Furtado being appointed the first secretary.

The federation conducted its first Goan State League in 1959 also under the name of Goa Primeira Divisão or Goa First Division with Clube Independente de Margao becoming the champions. The GFA then started the Goa Senior League in 1969, which was supposed to be the new first division of Goa, but later disbanded the league. Then for the 1970-71 season they turned the league into a two division First Division, North Division and South Division. They then introduced the a Second Division and Third Division from 1971-72.

The GFA then started the Goa Super Division in 1977 with Salgaocar S.C. being the champions. With football globally continuing to develop at a fast pace, the Goa Football Association decided it was time to push the game onto a higher platform. Goa emerged as the first state in India to go professional.

The GFA then revamped the National State League by forming the Goa Professional League in 1997 with Salgaocar coming out as champions. The Professional League was expanded to six teams from the 2000-01 season, after the GFA increased the competitiveness factor. Since 2002 the league was played as an eight team home-and-away format, making it 14 matches for each club. The GFA then announced that the 2011 season would be played with 10 teams under a new format.

State teams

Men

• Goa football team
• Goa under-20 football team
• Goa under-15 football team
• Goa under-13 football team

Women

• Goa women's football team
• Goa women's under-19 football team
• Goa women's under-17 football team

Affiliated district associations

Both districts of Goa are affiliated with the Goa Football Association.

Competitions

Club Level

Men's Senior

• Goa Professional League
• GFA First Division League
• GFA Second Division League
• GFA Third Division League
• Bandodkar Trophy
• Goa Police Cup

Women's Senior

• Goa Women's League

Youth

• GFA U-18 League Division I
• GFA U-18 League Division II
• GFA U-15 League Division I
• GFA U-13 League Division I
• GFA U-13 League Division II

Futsal

• Late Jaju GFA Futsal League

Goa Football League pyramid

The Goa Football League consists of the Goa Professional League as highest level, followed by the lower divisions.

References

References

1. [http://www.discoverfootball.de/netzwerk/asien/indien/goa-football-association/ Goa Football Association] {{Webarchive. link. (30 June 2022 . ''discoverfootball.de''. Retrieved 10 August 2021.)
2. Chaudhuri, Arunava. (31 October 1999). "NEWS FOR THE MONTH OF October 1999 — 18 October". Indian Football Network.
3. Mergulhao, Marcus. (4 June 2023). "GFA Awards Night: Socorro gets Lifetime Achievement Award; Cia, Mark Players of the Year". [[The Times of India]].
4. [http://www.indianfootball.de/data/gfl.html List of Champions of the Goa Football League (Goa Pro League)] {{Webarchive. link. (2020-08-02 ''indianfootball.de''. Retrieved 23 July 2021)
5. Mergulhao, Marcus. (12 September 2021). "Joao Aranha, man who set up GFA, dies in Portugal at 98". [[The Times of India]].
6. Mergulhao, Marcus. (5 January 2020). "Jogo Bonito: 60 years after Goa Football Association's formation, state's bond with game remains inseparable". [[The Times of India]].
7. None, None. (May 15, 2024). "GFA Leagues". Open Publishing.