Dempo looked superior to Kuwait at times in the second half with Sameer, captain Climax Lawrence, Anthony Pereira, Ranty and Beto combining superbly, but overall, the Kuwaitis had several near misses in the match. While the Dempo goalkeeper Abhijit Mondal was kept busy at work throughout, Dempo’s efforts to penetrate past Kuwait were bottled by 2 giant stopper backs and one of the tallest goalkeepers seen in football.
Contrary to low key spectator expectations to the first match by a Goan outfit, the game was marked by a large number of expatriate (almost all-Goan) spectator response with some fans sporting the Dempo colors, and booing the ref with the famous Goan ‘uushh’. There were fans with drums, banners and the stand allocated for Dempo was over filled. It was an international match (if fellows in Indian organizations in Kuwait know the meaning) between one of the top Indian clubs and the Kuwaitis.
The match was able to catch the imagination of many die-hard Indian football fans especially the number of Goans residing in Kuwait who are denied watching ‘quality football’ in recent years. Thanks to the worthless administrators and promoters involved around, half the people playing are unaware of their own standings in local competitions, leave alone the chances of others. 
When Brazil played Kuwait at Keifan stadium in 2006, the stadium was jam packed. Dempo are no Brazil but given the popularity and fan following of the Goan team, the support received by Dempo was tremendous. One can imagine the difference in the spectator response; there were hardly any expatriate flies for the Kuwait match against Mohun Bagan a few weeks ago.It is great to be a priest and greater still is to celebrate 50 years of one's priesthood
It is an honour to be a priest and greater honour is to celebrate golden jubilee of one's priestood.
Pe. Marcos Menezes as we know him from the beginning of his priesthood, today marked his golden anniversary of his priesthood with a Mass at his home place Church Chinchinnim, Salcette with joy and prayers. Patriarch Ferrao was the main celebrant of the holy Mass attended by the capacity faithfuls mainly the senior citizens including 18 priests, not only from Chinchinnim and other parts of Salcette but also from different parts of Goa.
Soon after his ordination in 1959, a fresh at very tender age from Rachol Seminary where he did his priestly studies, Pe. Marcos Menezes was posted as Pe. Cur to Candolim. I was a very young boy then and doing my studies at Parochial School in Candolim in the mornings and in the aftenoons at Escola Primaria de Abade Faria where I was doing my Portuguese studies. Being a Church School boy plus Choir and Altarboy, I was the first person to come in contact with Pe. Marcos to be his friend and in fact he took me as his good friend.
His first mission in Candolim was to start his own classes for the benefit of Portuguese language students especially those having weak knowledge of this subject, these classes he started in the church premises in the afternoons. Many of the weak students in Portuguese availed of this facility, of course, free of charge.
When St. Theresa High School was transferred to the Church premises, Pe. Marcos Menezes helped many of the poor students by paying their fees, of course from his own personal pocket. In this way he helped many parents of their financial burden but without disclosing it to anyone.
His other mission was to help the poor locals in different ways. Once in my presence one old lady from Murod Vaddo came running to him asking for financial help to take her ailing young daughter to the doctor. Without uttering a single word, Pe. Marcos Menezes opened his purse and gave the poor lady Rs. 20/- instructing her never to return this money back and also advising her to approach her for further asistance, if needed.
Pe. Marcos Menezes was a great lover and player of soccer. Hailing from Chinchinnim he inherited lot of soccer talent from his village known for producing best of soccer stalwarts of Goa. Seeing his soccer playing talent, the local Candolim Sports Club inducted him in their team as one of the main players playing as right back but using both his legs with equal ease but little shy in the aerial duels. As a Candolim XI player he played for Candolim in many of the inter village tournaments organised in Bardez during those days. He played by wearing his Cassock since removing one's Cassock was forbidden then for a priest. He also supported local footballers by entering Candolim team in many inter village tournaments in Bardez even by paying entry feees from his own pocket. For some promissing but poor boys playing football, he gave football kits free of charge. Because of his love for soccer, he became darling of the locals and everyone loved him in the village very much. He always treated everyone with the same love and respect without any discrimination but above all he loved the poor and down trodden more.
He was also a great lover of Tiato and also a promoter of Tiatro. Candolim was known to organise best of Tiatros during those days and he used to attend all those Tiatros. Besides, he also staged his own Tiatros with the participation of young boys and girls from the schools in the Church Square, I acted in two of such Tiatros. Because of such activities even Alexinho de Candolim once applauded him fabulouly and volunteered his help if required. Becuase of such extra curricular activities, he radiated brightness in Candolim and everyone liked what he did.
He enjoyed highests respect in Candolim till his leaving for USA in mid sixties. His tenure in Candolim was scandalfree. He received lot of admiration from all the communites from Candolim when he was leaving Candolim for good. He did not like pompousness nor show but simple way of living. He identified himself with the masses and poor and took pleasure in solving their problems. In Candolim such a charismatic and upright priest we are yet to see.
May God Bless Pe. Marcos Menezes and keep him going for many more years in the service of God and Mankind.
On behalf of myself, all my family members, like minded friends and his old students I wish Pe. Marcos Menezes a very happy 50th anniversary of his priesthood.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.
For reservation of seats contact the organisers on 39083239/36280107/39659539 or the artistes. This event is organised under the patronage of Young Goans Club.
May 7th. 2009 will be a red letter day for the Goan Cultural Centre when a delegation from the Executive Commitee paid a courtesy visit to accord a grand welcome to the H.E.Ajai Malhotra, the newly appointed Ambassador of India to the State of Kuwait. Goan Cultural Centre is a popular Goan NGO in Kuwait dedicated to the promotion and flourishment of charitable, educational, cultural, sports and social welfare activities among the Indian in general and Goans in particular in Kuwait.
The Goan delegation came in for a surprise when H.E Ambassador Malhotra told that he once had an occasion to visit the beautiful Indian State of Goa and that he was highly impressed by the architectural structures of the temples and churches. H.E. Ambassador Malhotra had also a word of praise to the great hospitality of the people of Goa.
Popular musical and Goa State award winning troupes like Kepemchim Kirnnam, Members of Goa Assembly (Vidhan Sabha), Top Konkani singers, mimicry artistes, musicians and comperes have graced Goan Cultural Centre’s cultural and food festival programmes, summer queen gala events and annual Christmas Tree programme which is always a entrance free for children and their parents to share in the happy tidings.
At the end of the session, the Goan delegation as the registered Goan NGO with the Embassy of India-Kuwait expressed its gratitude and appreciation to H.E.Ambassador Malhotra for his valuable time despite his extremely busy schedule and wished him a pleasant abode during his tenure in Kuwait.
Picture shows(L-R) Ms.Felia Afonso, Head of Social Cell; Casimiro Afonso,Vice-President; Carmo Santos,Chairman; H.E.Ambassador Ajai Malhotra; Ms.Trupti Marshall, General Secretary; Suresh Naik,President and Ms.Carrie Santos, Head of Educational Cell.
(As published by ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY, 15 MAY 2009)
By Tony Fernandes
