Panaji: Goan football mourned the death of Vilasrao Sardessai who famously put the interest of Goan football ahead of his own team, Dempo Sports Club.Sardessai was 78 and passed away on Thursday.The former Dempo secretary was Goa’s first representative at the All India Football Federation (AIFF) when he was elected vice-president in 1984, a position he occupied till late 1995 when current president Praful Patel was first nominated to the AIFF from Maharashtra and Alberto Colaco was Goa’s representative as chairman of the soon-to-be-launched National Football League (NFL).He is also the man who impressed upon the AIFF to allot the Nehru Cup to Goa in 1989, the same year the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda was built in a record time of six months. But more importantly, Sardessai always kept the interest of Goan football at heart.“I remember Dempo reaching the final of the Stafford Cup (at Bangalore in 1986) and they had committed to return to Goa for the semifinals of the Bandodkar Gold Cup. Neither the GFA nor Karnataka FA were willing to postpone the match. Vilas told the Dempo team to return home. They gave a walkover in the final,” said Antonio Botelho, former GFA secretary who initiated Vilasrao into the GFA as president in 1977.“His commitment to Goan football was unquestionable,” said Colaco, former general secretary of the AIFF.Former Dempo coach Armando Colaco, among India’s most successful club coach, said he will forever remain thankful to Vilas for recommending his name to club president Shrinivas Dempo, a decision that later proved to be a masterstroke as Dempo won almost everything on offer in Indian football.“The GFA has benefited immensely from his efforts and experience, and will always remember him as an accomplished professional, who administered the matters of the game with decisiveness, integrity and great sense of proficiency,” said GFA president Elvis Gomes.“During his tenure, Goan football has seen many highs and the best tribute to him will be our efforts to propel Goan football to a glorious high level in the country,” said GFDC chairman Dr Rufino Monteiro.Arjuna awardee Brahmanand Shankhwalkar, GFA vice-president Schubert Furtado, executive committee member Anthony Pango, former secretary Savio Messias, Dempo coach Mauricio Afonso, former GFA vice-presidents Tony Remedious and Victor Gonsalves were among those who sent condolence messages.