Mogall Agnelo Gomes Bab,
Thank you for the extremely informative email as indicated below. Lot of readers at least in Kuwait told me that they take lot of interests in your emails which they like me find informative and interesting. The link you send for the photographs of yesteryear footballers is very very interesting, informative and treasurous. I will preserve it. Many of the readers of your below mentioned email said they are very fortunate to get these precious photos. Thank you once again for the same.
I know you are very informative but never knew you are so rich in having richness of Goa preserved in your system. Share sometimes something with me and Goans like me who will always be grateful to you.
I will send these photos to my brother Cheddo to Goa because he rubbed his shoulder with almost everyone of them while playing in Goa during Portuguese era and also later on. He played for a long time for Goa Police starting from Portuguese time in 1958 as a tender boy. Fenelon was his companion for Goa Police Team and he was also our neighbour Nerul Bardez, very often he used to visit our place to meet my brother. I was very young at that time.
During those days Nerul annually used to hold All Goa Inter Village soccer tournament and teams from Chinchinnim, Carmona, Cuncolim, St. Inez, Taleigao having gigantic players used to participate. During this tournament, Goa used to congregate in Nerul. It was here first time in my life I saw Candu Abreu playing for his local team Taleigao (?). What a beautiful display of superb ball control, what a beautiful display of heading, what an abundant stamina. He was a perfect player. Unfortunately he was born in Goa. If he was in Portugal or any other European country, he would be surely a World Cupper.
I am sorry that Vasu Raiturkar has died already. I am sure he went as unsung and unnoticed as many great heroes of that era. Goa does not know to respect and adore their once heroes. When a person is on top form we adore him with bouquets of fresh flowers but when he is finished we ignore him, we taunt him and we pelt him with stones. Ingratitude is our hallmark. For this reason we do not produce great stalwarts.
Calcutta produce and create great footballers because they adore them them during and after their retirement. Rahman was my coach at Sesa. Earlier he played in Calcutta for Mohun Bhagan for about 8 years and won 3 Rovers Cup finals for Mohun Baghan. In 1952 he played for India at Melbourne Olympics along with our Goan soccer wizard Neville D'Souza. 15 years after his retirement from Calcutta soccer, he revisited Calcutta from Bangalore. When he stepped down on the Platform from the Railway though aged yet he was spotted immediately by the Tea Boy on the Railway Platform Tea Stall. This Tea Boy earlier was a small boy but now he became a man. Recognising Rahman, that Tea Boy jumped in joy exclaiming loudly Rahman Sahab, Rahman Sahab. Listening to his shouts everyone there got alerted and all rushed to Rahman hugging him and kissing, first was tea boy. Some people showered Rahman with currency notes. Rahman could not control his emotions, finally he cried like a baby and said: "I am overwhelmed by your welcome to me. I never expected it even after so many years you will show me the same love. Calcutta is a great place for footballers. I dont need your money, your love and affection is more than currency notes for me".
Do we adore our ex heroes like what they do in Calcutta. Even for our great yesteryears Tiatrists we leave them to rot and suffer. Even their own family members sometimes do not take care of our old heroes. It is a tragedy.
I heard that Keshav also faced lot of difficulties in his retiured life. If it is true then it is very painful. The recent hero of Goa Bernardo of Vasco who even represented India a number of times finally had to live a very backward life, to cure his cancer affected son special fund had to be raised. Once mighty Bernard finally had to cry bitterly at Vasco football ground when Vasco Sports Club presented a special Cheque for his son. Rosary Ferns from Kuwait rendered a very beautiful song on his son and on Bernard.
I feel Agnelo Bab, we have to do something for our ex heroes. My brother Cheddo because of his Government Job after his retirement is become an "honrad pensaumkar" while those who played for Salgaokars, Vasco, Independente, Sesa, who gives them pension for their old age? For our Tiatrists who give them pension during their old age sustenance?
Agnelo Bab, you are a very charitable man. You have your charity Trust. Earlier on my suggestion you donated lakhs of rupees for organising Mando Festival in Goa. Cant you do something for our old heroes so that they can get some sort of pension monthly during their old and difficult days? In Goa nobody will care such people. Fovernment awards are only pieces of paper and Mementoes, these are not fetching them any monetary benefits. In Punjab ex Olympians out of povery even sold their Olympic Gold Medals which they won in Hocckey.
I request and appeal you Agnelo Gomes Bab to apply your mind on this very critical subject. You are blessed by God and knowing your heart very well I am appealing you to come forward and do something. I am not in position as you are. However, if you feel I am taking liberty of your kindness, then with my profound apology, please disregard my appeal
Mog assundi.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
K R A N T I
--No plans in this revolution are written for retreat--
June 30, 2007
Re: Goan Football
From: AAssoc4994@aol.com
To: goancauses@yahoogroups.com
CC: averonicaf806@hotmail.com
Veronica:
My memory tells me, fllodlight game was also played in Margao and Independente has seven pacles from Tropa Rawanfond, Margao. I used to catch hand of paclo to make my way in without bilhete.
Clube Independente de Margao was financed by Goan Hindu shop keepers. Then, I was a young boy, we'were all young then, I grew up in Magao. In konkani, we used to say "Independi club" located behind Cine Lata Margao. All shops shutters went down at 3PM, when "Independi club" played in Margao.
Vimson(Salgaoncar), Velha de Goa, Ferroviarios( Benjamin goalie), Academica, Independente, Policia de Goa, Santa Ines, were great clubs, great standards.
All credit goes to Goa Portuguesa.Go to goancauses.com paste this http://www.goancauses.com/gallery/2.html
you will see pictures of following players of Independente courtesy of Menino Figueredo de Carmona, not Cuncolim:Fenelon D' Souza, Jackson, Francis, Rock Cruz, Menino Figueredo, Vetto, Amrut Verenkar, Mendes, Basto, Alisab Sadekar, Ravi, etc.
I've no idea where all these players are gone. I know poor Vasu Raiturcar passed away.
Menino Figueredo is still living, once he was very sick, in that sickness he lost his hearing, last I saw Menino in 2003 in Carmona at Jules Alberto wedding, I made efforts to see Menino in person, because Menino could not make for Jules wedding.
You're a great asset for Goan Portuguesa football.
Thanks.
Mog AssomAgnelo Gomes
USA
Posted by KRANTI at
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