Vilasrao Sardessai, former senior vice-president of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), passed away this morning.
Sardessai was 77.
Being the first ever Goan to have been elected vice-president of the AIFF, Sardessai, who served in the Goa Football Association in various capacities including as president, displayed his organisational capabilities during the Jawaharlal Nehru Cup held at Goa in 1989.
Sardessai had been the manager of the Indian football team, and was one of the chief architects of the National Football League. He was honored with the Jivabadada Kerkar Award in 1992 for his contribution to football.
Sardessai was elected as the GFA president in 1977 and continued in that capacity till 1981 serving two terms. He was elected president of the GFA general assembly in 1990 and continued in that role till 1993. In between he headed the technical council of the GFA. Sardessai served as the AIFF vice-president for three terms from 1984 to 1996.
Paying tributes to the man who showed his astuteness in organisational matters, the Goa Football Association president, Elvis Gomes said, "The Goa Football Association, on behalf of the football fraternity of clubs, players and officials, expresses their heartfelt sympathies and condoles the death of Mr Vilasrao Sardessai.
"The Goa Football Association will always remain indebted to Vilasrao Sardessai for his contribution to the development of Goan football."
Former GFA secretary Savio Messias said: "He was instrumental in getting the Nehru Cup to Goa."
Antonio Botelho, another former GFA stalwart, also paid glowing tributes to Sardessai.
"Goa can never forget what Vilas did for GFA in his own way during the time he was at helm and even later when he was the vice-president of AIFF," Botelho remarked.
