Opposition MLAs want FC Goa to offer stake to Goan natives

Panaji, Aug 3 (IANS) ISL team FC Goa should give a 25 per cent stake to a Goan owner, because they are using the word "Goa" in the team name, Opposition MLAs said on Wednesday during the ongoing monsoon session of the Goa legislative assembly.

Former Chief Minister and Congress MLA Digambar Kamat also demanded that the BJP-led coalition government should intervene and ensure that the Indian Super League team offers at least a 25 per cent stake to Goans or the state government should not allow the team the use of the Jawaharlal Nehru football stadium in South Goa.

"If the club is using the name 'FC Goa', then Goans should have a stake in it. Goa government should intervene. If you cannot give them the (football) ground, they cannot do anything," Kamat told the Goa legislative assembly.

Earlier, Mickky Pacheco an Opposition legislator from Nuvem and said that he was willing to buy 25 per cent stake in the team, whose former owners were Goan businessmen Shrinivas Dempo and Dattaraj Salgaocar.

"I am ready. Government should intervene. I am ready (to buy 25 per cent). I am ready to buy it in the name of Goa," Pacheco told the Goa legislative assembly.

Casino tycoon Jaydev Mody recently purchased 65 per cent stake in FC Goa after Dempo and Salgaocar stepped down as owners following protracted differences with ISL. The other co-owners of the team are Indian test team captain Virat Kohli and Venugopal Dhoot of Videocon.