J.P. D’MELLO AND KIFF LEAGUE.

J.P. D’MELLO AND KIFF LEAGUE.

This is in response to the news article in this forum on 23.07.08 of the J.P. Memorial KIFF League Football Tournament final written by prominent Goan writer and former National footballer Gasper Crasto. There is nothing much to write further on this since the writer has covered all the points minutely and poignantly too on certain incidents still happening during our soccer games.

When UG started our soccer in 1979, I interviewed the then UG President Tony Fernandes from Siolim who himself was once an ace footballer in Goa playing for the Goan top teams Bemfica and Lube. Tony said, at his place in Salmiya, "These soccer activities are initiated to promote friendship and good will amongst us. Thru these soccer activities, there should be more unity amongst Goans’.

This interview I conducted on behalf of ‘Goycho Mog’, a Goan Konkani Weekly from Margao. After reading the news on the final, I still feel some discords are happening amongst us, may be because we all cannot accept the defeat sportingly. Victory and defeat are part of the game. We are not competing in World Cup to take the defeat so seriously. Even in the World Cup and in Euro Cup the defeated teams accept the defeats and leave the field gracefully.

Though for some it is difficult to accept the defeat yet the seniors and elders in the teams and team management must try to console the hurt and defeated. Let us try to build more and more friendships thru this football.

Our discord will surely have bad effect on our friendly relationship. We Goykars especially the Goa based Goans must try to overcome our partisan differences and come together for the betterment of our Goa. As it is, Goa is getting finished for Goans. Our Goan Clubs and Teams must utilize their resources and manpower to protect Goa from going into the hands of non-Goans. To do this we must have our unity starting first at soccer grounds where Goans congregate in large number.

Though UG initiated our soccer activities with the intention of promoting friendship amongst us, yet they were the first to destroy this friendship existing amongst us when they maliciously suspended G.O.A. Maroons from their tournament. This they did only to disintegrate the then powerhouse Maroons which engulfed in its fold the best available footballers in Kuwait amongst us. Besides G.O.A. had an excellent band of committee members of which type no other club or team had and will never have either.

UG was jealous of G.O.A. Maroons progress and to further stop the development of Maroons, the Divadkar and Siolekar became the main architects of suspending Maroons even against the wishes of other members. The seed of discord amongst us thus for the first time was sowed by UG against their principle which said “friendship thru sports”. Unfortunately, they inculcated “enmity thru sports”. G.O.A. Maroons is still going strong while once mighty UG is TOTTERING and if nothing can be done to revive it, then it will disappear like an ETHER. As it is their former office bearers and supporters have already ‘DESERTED’ UG. Their fall is very imminent, either today or tomorrow.

It is nice to remember J.P.D'Mello (J.P) by organizing the Kuwait Indian Football League Tournament in his honour. He was the backbone of our activities then at Sour Grounds in the sense that he was a guide and mentor for us and although his total allegiance was for UG yet he said “I am for all Goans and for football”. Because of his presence amongst us, we attained certain respect in Kuwait as far as soccer is concerned. He was a genius in soccer laws. Once, the then mighty Indian soccer organizer from Bombay Mr. Ziauddin, while having conversation with JP at Cooperage said, “Mr. J.P., can you please give me that genius brain of yours where soccer knowledge is stored? If you give me that then I will give you anything”.

JP had great love for Goa and Goans and he participated in our activities for the cause of Goa, Goans and Konkani. In Kuwait, everyone involved in soccer loved and liked him except one Mangalorean Judas Iscariot, an ex-IFRA referee who inspite of receiving farewell parties is still rotting in Kuwait taking Bible in his sinful hands. He was envious of J.P because he could not do what JP could do. May the genuine Goan soul of JP Rest In Peace.

When JP was first time brought to Sour Ground after his arrival in mid eighties, Tony Fernandes the then UG President introduced him to me. While exchanging views, suddenly JP saw the boundary Flags which were very small in size. Then he immediately asked Tony: “Are you running this tournament on FIFA rules or your own rules?” Tony answered “as per FIFA rules”. Then JP told Tony to change the Flags to bigger size as per FIFA rules. While this conversation was going on, there was one UG man, little drunk, who started poking his nose in the discussion. JP asked: "Who is this man? Tony said “he is one of our members”. Then JP retorted rather bluntly and also sarcastically: “How can you run football tournaments with such “Bebdes” (Drunkards)? Keep such persons out of your reach because they bring soccer into disrepute”. Bebdes are Bebdes, however much educated they may be. And those who are supporting Bebdes are double Bebdes.

JP was very rigid as far as physical fitness of the Referees and other requirements were concerned. Many of the current referees are overage; they have crossed more than the permissible age limit prescribed by FIFA. Some of them are become paunchy with their bellies like watermelons and yet still shamelessly officiate the games either from the middle or from the lines. Once they know that they have crossed their age limit they must voluntarily withdraw with good name and fair image. What is the age of referee Sarto Batista who is struggling to push himself even on the sidelines. What about others? It is these physically unfit referees that soil the prestige of our soccer. It is my request to them that all those who are not fitting into the rules of FIFA must withdraw before they are disgraced and forced to leave. Most of the people who are involved in running the soccer association and teams are doing so for their own personal honour and glories. For this reason they do so much, even spending so much of money to run their affairs.

Our people are crazy for name and fame because it missed them back at home. They are suffering from ancestral deficiency and inferiority complex but they must know very well that back home in Goa, they are still non-entities.

Many of the earlier so called mighty Kuwait Goans showing their professional, influential, financial and physical might in Kuwait are now gone underground in Goa. They are living like unknown entities because nobody cares them in Goa. They are afraid even of their own shadows. It is a pity to see them on this “estad”. While they were in Kuwait they were shaking the earth below and around their feet but now in their retired life in Goa, the same earth is shaking them. Yesterday’s presidents, chairmen, other office bearers in our associations; managers and officers, foremen and service advisers and other top positions holders in their companies who were acting like Maharajas in Kuwait are become ordinary tadpoles in Goa now. Our pompous show is meant only in Kuwait. Many of us are like frogs in the pond and we will remain so because the world for us is only around the pond.

When we started our soccer activities in 1979, it was at Sour Grounds. This lasted till the last year but this year we shifted to Salmiya, and according to my information, this place is also closed for us. What will be the next venue for us now? Who will decide? I heard that KIFF have approached the Indian Embassy, Sheikh Talal (President of Kuwait Football Federation), Kuwait Youth & Sports Organization, Kuwait Football Clubs who own football stadiums, and even AIFF Gen. secretary Mr.Alberto Colaco plus other influential individuals. But have they approached with their right people or with Bebde? Do we have capable people in our midst to get a permanent venue for us at a particular place? Do we have influential and clever people for hard bargaining? Do we have capacity to approach the relevant authorities as JP once did by directly approaching the local soccer authority? JP was a gigantic figure and his gigantic power was accepted by others. I only hope something will be materialized soon. Let us hope so.

Finally, as announced during the final, over a lakh of rupees have been collected by the KIFF affiliated clubs and other individuals as gift to the player of KGA who was injured by DHL a few months back. Thru this collection it was proved now that we are ready to shoulder our responsibility towards others who have nobody to take care.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

“Konkani Tiatro” is an Industry

By Wilmix Wilson Mazarello (Goa)

wilson_mazarello@rediffmail.com

Year 1950:
Son: Dad, I want to be a “Tiatrist”.
Dad: Son , that “Tiatristponn”, is not for us. “Tiatrisponn”, is for drunkards, unemployed and for those who do not have any respect in Society.

Year 1960 :
Son : Dad I want to be a “Tiatrist”.
Dad : My son, by being a Tiatrist , you can’t make a living for yourself. Tiatrists don’t have a regular income. What will you eat ? How will you support a family ?

Year 1970 :
Son: Dad, I want to be a Tiatrist.
Dad : First, get yourself a permanent job. Then, if you want to show your talent, you may do it, only as a “part-time”.

Year 1980 :
Son: Dad, I want to be a Tiatrist.
Dad : I’ve no problem with that . Be a real good “Tiatrist”. Earn something there. Don’t be just an “Ordinary Tiatrist”, and waste your time.

Year 1990 :
Son: Dad, I want to be a Tiatrist.
Dad: My son, I’ve heard it’s very difficult to get into tiatros. Will those tiatrists, accept you ?

Year 2000:
Son: Dad, I want to be a Tiatrist.
Dad: With great pleasure. Be a real good Tiatrist.Bring name & fame to your family.
I’ve heard, they earn well in tiatros.You too earn in tiatros, and make a living for yourself.

Reading the above dialogues, between father & son, we get a reasonably-good glimpse, into the history of “Konkani Tiatro”, during those 50 years i.e. between, year 1950 and year 2000.
We come to know, what developments, what changes, have happened in Konkani Tiatros, during these 50 years.

The father’s replies, show us, how much the attitude, of Goan Society, changed towards Konkani Tiatro, during these 50 years.

Before 1950, very few people, would have thought of taking, “Tiatrisponn” as a profession.
Today, everyone wants it.

WHAT’S CHANGED ?

Today , a Tiatrist is honoured & respected. Today , there is “money” in tiatros. Today, with “Tiatrisponn”, as a proffesion, one can afford a reasonably good life, for oneself and one’s family.
Some of our tiatrists, earn as much as senior-managers, of multinational companies.

INDUSTRY

It is heard, that our Government of Goa, accords a “Small-scale-Industry” status, to any company which has a turn–over of Rs. 5 lakhs, or employs a minimum of 10 workers.
Such companies, having status of a “Small-scale-Industry”, get a lot of facilities from the Government.

Facilities like, subsidies for developing business, income-tax exemption , insurance cover for workers etc. etc.

If so, why is it that, the status of an “Industry” is not given to “Konkani Tiatro”? Or is it, that the “Konkani-Tiatro”, does not satisfy the criteria, for receiving “Industry-Status”?

“TURN-OVER” IN TIATROS

Has any body, ever, tried to find out what is the “turn-over” in Konkani tiatros? Has anybody, bothered to find out, what is the “income”, generated in Tiatros, and how many Goans, make a living on Tiatros ?

Does anyone know, how many jobs, are created by Konkani tiatros?

Well, I have done my research, and I know my findings are “right’, to a very great extent.

CHECK-IT-OUT.

A.

Today in Goa, there are at least 10 Producer/Directors, who release 2 new Konkani Tiatros every year, and they stage at least 50 performances of each of these tiatros, within that year.
These Producer/ Directors include, Roseferns, Prince Jacob, Mario Menezes, Minin de Bandar, John D’Silva, Anil Pednekar, Comedian Dominic, Minin Mario, Pascoal Rodrigues and Maxcy Pereira.

The Income, on these Tiatro-performances, is as follows :

10 Producers x 50 performances x 2 (ie. twice a year) = 1000 performances
1000 x 800 tickets per Hall = 800,000 tickets
800,000 tickets x Rs 60/- (Price of a ticket) = Rs. 4,80,00,000/- (Income)

B.

Similarly, there are at least 6 producers in Goa, who release just one Konkani tiatro in a year, and they have at least 50 performances of that tiatro , within that year.

These producer/Directors include, Tony Dias, Samuel Carvalho, Comedian Ambe, Comedian Agustinho, Ben Envangelisto and Mariano Fernandes.

The Income, on these performances, is as follows :

6 producers x 50 performances x 1 (Once a year) = 300 performances
300x 800 tickets per Hall = 2,40,000 tickets
2,40,000 tickets x Rs 60/- (cost of a ticket) = Rs. 1,44,00,000/- (Income)

C.

Then, there are at least another 10 producers, who release 1 tiatro in a year, and they have minimum of 25 performances of that tiatro, within that year.

Among these producers are, Milagres de Chandor, Anthony Sylvester, Inacio de Canacona, Jr. Reagan, Ives Tavares, A.M. Pacheco, F.Cardozo, Dominic Carvalho, Patrick Dourado and Betty Alvares.

The Income, on these performances, is as follows:

10 producers x 25 performances x 1 (once a year) = 250 performances
250 performances x 800 tickets = 200,000 tickets
200,000 tickets x Rs. 60/- (Cost of a ticket) = Rs.1,20,00,000/- (Income)

D.

After these, comes a list of 5 producers, who release just 1 new tiatro in a year and they stage at least 20 performances of that tiatro, within that year.
Among these come , Kennyferens, Cyril Almeida, Star of Curtorim, Anthony San, and Succur de Santacruz.

The Income, on these performances, is as follows :

5 producers x 20 performances x 1 ( just once a year )= 100 performances
100 x 800 tickets = 80,000 tickets
80,000 tickets x Rs 60/- (Cost of a ticket ) = Rs. 48,00,000/- (Income)

E.

These, are followed by a list of 6 priests, along with Shri Ligorio Fernandes, who release just one Religious tiatro in a year, during the season of Lent.
Each of these producers, stage at least 30 performances of their tiatro.

The Income, on this performances, is as follows :

7 Producers x 30 performances x 1 ( once a year ) = 210 performances
210 performances x 800 tickets = 1,68,000 tickets
1,68,000 tickets x Rs 60/- (Cost of a ticket) = Rs. 1,00,80,000/- (Income)

F.

Finally , comes a list of Local Producer/ Directors, at village –level, who produce and direct their own tiatros, in their own villages.

For the purpose of our calculation , lets suppose there are just 5 such producers in each Taluka, and lets say they stage just one performance of their tiatro in a year, for the village feast.

The Income on these performances is as follows :
5 producers in each Taluka x 11 Talukas x 1 ( once a year ) = 55 performances
55 performances x 800 tickets = 44,000 tickets
44,000 tickets x Rs 60/- = Rs 26, 40,000/- (Income)

(Other than the above, every year, there are tiatr-performances, held outside Goa, ie. Mumbai...40, Gulf.....20, and Europe / America ....10.

The Income, on these performances, is :

70 performances x 800 tickets per performance x Rs 300/- = Rs. 1,68.00.000/-“Income”. However, for our today’s calculation, we are not considering this figure, as we are considering the ‘Income’, on performances held in Goa, alone)

Hence, the total “Income” on Tiatros, staged in Goa alone is :

A) + B) + C) + D) + E) + F) = Rs 4,80,00,000/- + RS 1,44,00,000/- + Rs 1,20,00,000/- + Rs 48,00,000/- + Rs 1,00,80,000/- + Rs 26,40,000/-

= Rs. 9,19,20,000/-
(Rupees, Nine Crores Nineteen Lakhs Twenty Thousand )

Is this “Income / Turn-Over”, not sufficient to give , “Konkani Tiatro” the status of an “Industry”?

TIATRO GIVES JOBS

Further more, the Konkani Tiatro, is a source of regular income to a lot of Goans.

Some of the Goans who live of the Konkani tiatro are :- Hall-Owners, Tiatro Writers/ Directors/ Actors / Actresses/ Singers/ Musicians. Stage Managers, Sound Operators, Light Operators, Setting Hirers, Troupe Transporters, Setting Transporters, Stage-Hands, Helpers, Canteen Operators, Ticket-Sellers, Ticket / Handbill Printers, Poster-Painters, Car-Publicity-Operators, Newspapers, Rehearsal-Houses, Script-typists, Xerox Operators, etc. etc .

So much employment , is generated through the Konkani Tiatro. So many Goans, make a living out of Konkani Tiatro. Is this, not sufficient to give the “Konkani Tiatro” , the status of an “Industry” ?

TIATR PRESERVES OUR GOAN IDENTITY

Konkani Tiatro, preserves our Goan Art & Culture.
Konkani Tiatro, keeps our Mother-Tongue, Konkani alive.
Konkani Tiatro is a “watch-dog”, for our Society and our Government.
Konkani Tiatro, teaches good family values to our society, in addition to giving a good entertainment.

WHAT ELSE DO WE NEED ?

If the Konkani Tiatro, can do all this, with no support , from, the Government
of Goa, imagine what all it could have done, if some support was forthcoming, from the Government.

All said and done, there is no point in talking about something , that’s not likely to happen.

Whether the Goa Government recognizes it as an Industry, or not, the people of Goa have already taken the Konkani Tiatro, to the level of an Industry.

KONKANI TIATRO TODAY, IS ALREADY, A VIBRANT, MULTICRORE INDUSTRY.