XAVIER MENDES INTERRED TODAY AT MAPUSA CEMETERY

FINALLY IT was yet again proved that “Dust you are and unto dust you will return”.  The body of Xavier Mendes was interred today at Mapusa Cemetery after the Mass at 10.00 held at the Mapusa Church where innumerable people attended the service before going to the Cemetery for the burial. There were many Kuwaitcars who came even from distant places to attend the funeral besides many Tiatrists, namely Joe Rose, Wilmix & Sharon, Platilda, Jessie, Josephine, Cyriaco Dias, Dost Kumar, Felix Mendes (avier's elder brother)etc.

Herebelow from my Album File, I got some photographs of Mendes Bros. clicked in Kuwait during their participation in our Tiatros, Musical Shows and other activities.  Since Xavier Mendes was involved more in the community affairs his attachment to me was more.

It was their entry in Kuwait and thereby their participation in our Tiatros in Kuwait that that created a strong base for our Tiatros.  The standard of Tiatros in Kuwait was enhanced due to their participation because they have given a better touch to our Tiatros.  All the three brothers shouldered the major responsibility of any Tiatro they participated.The decent and serious role was played by the elder brother Felix while the fabulous comedy role was played by both the younger brothers Xavier and Derrick.

In any Tiatro they participated, they used to sing two trios, one decent and the other comedy. They were so "lokh priya" that their entry itself was fabulously applauded by the audience.  The greater part of the beauty of their acting and singing was very much missed in Goa because during their peak form when they were very ripe, they left for Kuwait where they have fabulously entertained the Kuwait audience. The first Tiatro that they have participated in Kuwait as Mendes Bros. was somewhere in 1977 at Keefan Hall attended by the hall packed audience. This Tiatro was staged by Jennifer Rodrigues brother  of Carmo Rod.         

May the soul of Xavier Mendes  Rest In Peace.   

Mendes Bros. singing their famous song MAE whom they loved too much.

Seen in the middle is Xavier.

Again they are seen singing in one of our Tiatros.  Xavier in the middle.

Xavier as Chief Guest presenting the Memento to Marcus Vaz in Kuwait.

To the extreme right seated is his beloved wife Theresa.

During our Mando festival in Kuwait, Xavier at extreme left conducting one Mando item.  

Mendes Bros. singing their trio during our Musical Show.  Xavier is seen in the middle.

Xavier at left seen acting along with Joana and Anthony San.

  

Seen all the three Mendes Bros. at extreme right where Xavier seen in the middle, during one of our Musical Shows at the Indian Embassy Auditorium. 

THE LOSS OF FC GOA IN ISL SOCCER.

With regret I write this piece expressing my feelings on the humiliating defeat FC Goa suffered  on 13th of this month at Chennai, from Chennaiyin. When Goa lost in the penultimate encounter in Madras in the Santosh Trophy for the first time after the invasion  of Goa by Bharat, the national Press commented thus, “though Goa lost yet Indian soccer has to learn a lot from Goa that displayed totally different brand of soccer”.  During that time Goa had great stalwarts in its team of which type we don’t see any more now. Can we get another right outer like Vassu? Can we see another goal-keeper like Benzinho? Can we get another deep defender like Menino Figueredo? Can we ever again get another Andrew? Today Goa hardly have a few players worthy of admiration and because of this now FC  Goa plays with more non Goans who it looks are least bothered to give their best for their temporarily adopted place, they looked like playing only for the sake of money. In fact today it is money that plays foot-ball. The non-Goan players have  already crossed their prime and since most of them looks rejected in their countries and regions, they came to Goa.  

Besides Mandar nobody seen giving his life for FC Goa that was totally outplayed by the host in every department of the game.  All the three goals  of the host were wonderful but the first scored by Jeje had class in itself, it was a world class header. Goa’s passing was slow and erratic; in the beginning they controlled the ball  in the midfield only.  However, both the Goan defenders standing in between Jeje are to be blamed for not doing serious attempt  to jump first only to head the ball away.  Neither the custodian of Goa came out to jump and punch the ball for safety.

The defense of Goa was slow and vulnerable, their marking was poor, it was neither zonal nor man to man.  I don’t know who selected the outstation players and on what basis? The owner of FC Goa it looks like interested only in promoting thru FC Goa his Casino business and wooing Goans towards his Casinos.  Because of this FC Goa soccer team the owner of the Casino who run the FC Goa succeeded in brainwashing the Goans in general to accept the sinful money making venture.  The owner of FC Goa wants nothing except the acceptance of Casinos in Goa by the Goans and that is what he does precisely. He is not interested in the promotion of Goan soccer by creating proper infrastructure and base for producing talented Goan players. Even during those days Portuguese promoted Goans but now under the Indian domination Goans are neglected. Non Goan persons like him must know that they are using the name of Goa which has great tradition of displaying finest soccer and this image of Goa should not be altered.

It is a shame that FC Goa is represented by very few Goans, even during Portuguese time Goa was represented with more players inspite of having exceptionally talented Portuese players.  The overall quality of the non-Goan players playing for FC Goa is low, I am sure if properly searched there would be better players in Goa to play for Goan outfit than many of the currently donning the clours of FC Goa, from outside Goa.

A.Veronica Fernandes

SAD DEMISE OF EX-KUWAITCAR XAVIER MENDES

With my heart crying, I write this piece  with deep sorrow and chagrin on the sad demise of our friend, colleague and strong supporter of Goan causes including that of Konkani language. Xavier Mendes yesterday at GMC Bambolim, Goa. Xavier Mendes came to Kuwait somewhere in 1979 after his younger brother Derick and  later on their elder brother Felix too joined them in late seventies. When they all the three brothers came to Kuwait, they started taking part in our Tiatros organized in Kuwait mainly in the Church Hall and Keefan Hall. When I established my contact with all the three brothers who were staying together as a very well knit family with strong  bond of which type nowadays one rarely sees,  I disclosed my idea to all the Mendes brothers of financing from Kuwait the starting of peoples daily in Konkani that was christened as ‘NOVEM GOEM”. Xavier Mendes along with his other two brothers younger Derick and the elder Felix gave me strong booster to go ahead. Then I said we will organize 1 or 2 Tiatros to raise fund for this daily and I told them every artiste will have to act free of charge, for this proposal they immediately agreed and not only they but even all others acted free except Musicians who were very adamant and arrogant towards the Konkani cause. Finally we organized two Tiatros for this cause without paying a paisa to the artistes, for both these Tiatros Xavier Mendes along with his other 2 bothers shouldered major responsibility to make these Tiatros successful.

Xavier Mendes seen addressing a Meeting in Kuwait

After some years, Xavier Mendes stopped acting in Tiatros because he got himself involved very deeply in the Church affairs in different fields whence the era of Mendes Bros. came to a halt. By being involved in the Church circle he helped the Church in organizing Choir and other religious activities.  It was during this period he got married to his wife Theresa who is a very kind and loving person, they have two children, one son and a daughter.

Then after a long gap I requested  Xavier Mendes to take part in the Show we organize at Indian Embassy Auditorium in honour of Fr. Gabriel Dias as a farewell to him since he was leaving Kuwait after serving Kuwait about 7 years.  With Xavier Mendes saying ok, other two brothers also joined him to make this Show a great success. As a farewell gift to Fr. Gabriel, Xavier Mendes composed a beautiful song on Fr. Gabriel which was rendered by all the three brothers very beautifully. In fact  Xavier Mendes was very smart as far as singing part is concerned.  He was doing comedy role along with his younger brother Derrick and they both creating peals of laughter in the audience  while the elder brother Felix playing the role of a decent man which with his majestic personality he used to perform beautifully. 

Xavier Mendes’ besides Stage and Church roles, used to take part in many of the activities for the cause of Goa and Goans and as a matter of fact he was an asset for us while in Kuwait especially during the Konkani movement.  He was always a source of encouragement for me, almost in all the activities that we organized in Kuwait for the cause of Goa and Goans.

The Trio of Mendes Bros. Xavier in the middle

In Kuwait while doing comedy roles he used to perform cabaret dance so perfectly well that one was at a loss to recognise that he was the real Xavier Mendes.  With his empty mouth in the manner of whistling, he used to play Trumpet just like the original Trumpet. When he along with his other two brothers first time came on the Stage after his father’s death, the legendary comedian Anthony Mendes, he created sensation mainly because people noticed a lot of resemblance in him and his late father. He is by nature very innovative creating something or the other while playing his role.  He was perfect in doing the mimicry by imitating the voices of many persons.

      Seen extreme left is Xavier Mendes attending the public function in Kuwait.

Once he told me that their coming on to the Konkani Stage was because of the death of their father when they were young still in the school because their father was opposing them to become Tiatrists. During those days Tiatrists enjoyed no respect in the society, most of them were drunkards and womenisers and afflicted with other vices.  But if their father was alive now, he would be surprised to know that all his three sons maintaining  high profile and dignified discipline.  By moving with Xavier and his other brothers too, I found they are very decent, disciplined and of high character personalities. The way Xavier along with his other 2 brothers behaved in society, they don’t look like ordinary tiatrists but extra-ordinary human beings.    

A. Veronica Fernandes.