SAD DEATH OF A GOAN FOOT BALLER - JOE.

SAD DEATH OF A GOAN FOOT-BALLER JOSEPH P. FERNADES (JOE) IN KUWAIT.

That the death is certain is a hard fact and that it will surely come either today or tomorrow is also a very sure fact but that its exact arrival date is unknown is sure as well. It is our expectation that it should come at the old age when we reach the Seventh Stage of our life, that is when we play the Seventh Role of our play in our life's drama as described by William Shakesphere in his last comedy play "As You Like It" where Shakesphere says we reach the stage of "Sans Eyes - Sans Teeth - Sans Ears - Sans Limbs". What a tragedy it is to know that at the young age our friend and once colleague at Sour Ground Joseph P. Fernandes popularly known as Joe suddenly died on 6th of this month - just 4 days back.

I came in contact with him first time from close angle when we encountered each other at Sour Grounds during the inaugural tournament initiated by United Goans Football Center in 1979. He was playing for the then mighty outfit Starlite Goans and I was captaining Peter D'Souza's team Salmiya Youth. In the inaugural tournament both Starlite Goans and Salmiya Youth were giant killers having very experienced foot-ballers in their ranks. Both these teams were semi-finalists in that inception year. Starlite Goans was considered the team of "Fidalgos" and "Elites" as most of their players were the employees of different Banks in Kuwait. In certain quarters, this team was called the "Bankers Team" and as such it enjoyed a better social status amongst us then.

Amongst the players for Starlites, Joe was one of the exceptioanlly talented player and in many of my reviews in the local Newspapers I dubbed him as the best. He along with his brother dominated not only Starlites but also the Sour Grounds. Joe was always the dynamic and aggressive with his superb heading prowess, excellent ball control and long distance shots from any angle. He could use both his legs with the same ease. An untiring player like a Horse he would run all around the field changing his positions within split of a moment to fit anywhere. Though he was a an attacking midfielder yet he would dip himself at any moment inside the penalty area of the opponents and create terror in the citadel of opponents area. He was feared by the opposing teams' defenders. Though robust on the ground yet decent and clean.

He was one of the Goan players during those days to popularise our soccer in Kuwait in general and at Sour Grounds in particular. He was one of the players responsible to bring our soccer where it is today. He had majestic appearance on the field and while playing always looked elegant. If he was not in Kuwait during that time, he would surely get automatic chance to represent any of the top Goan teams in Goa. It is a pity that such Goan players are rarity amongst us now-a-days in Kuwait. He always patted me for playing my role on and off the field very well for the promotion of our soccer and especially he patted me for making our soccer more popular thru my writings in the local Newspapers, namely Arab Times and Kuwait Times and in Goan Papers and Goan Magazines, English and Konkani.

In his death Kuwait Goan Soccer lost a great foot-baller. May his soul rest in peace and may Heavenly God give courage to his family to bear this colossal loss.

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Kuwait.

GOA THE RED LIGHT DESTINATION by Soter.

GOA THE RED LIGHT DESTINATION

The orgy in the name of development and progress of Goa must be stopped before it consumes every goan. The physical, social, environmental, cultural and economic promiscuity cultivated by the politicians, bureaucrats and the non-goan and non-state actors needs to be crushed before goan society crumbles under it. Goa has been reduced to a 24 hour and 365 days carnival parade and beach party with the peaceful and hospitable locals being assumed to be morons who do not know to govern their own land. The lamanis. ramanis, patels, ahluwalias, Sujoys, singanias, advanis, kuttys,.pandits, mathais' and the likes have descended to teach goans how they need to conduct their social and economic affairs. Anything and everything is possible in Goa for these neo-colonialists who take cover of the Constitution of India claiming that they have a right to settle anywhere and convert it into yet another sewer of Mumbai, Delhi, Calcuttta or Chennai. Confront their mischief in Goa and they drag you to their court in Calcutta, U.P., M.P. or Bihar while they continue to boldly and openly operate in Goa. Goa has been reduced to a red light area where anyone and everyone can satisfy the sensual pleasures and economic desires for a price. Elements of all sorts, shades and colours are thriving on the trade.

The Regional Plan 2021 designed by imported planners, traders, middle-men and migrants only ensures that this orgy continues and every goan female and male will be sucked into the flesh and drug trade. The Ali Baba and his 40 chors are no more goans and given more time they are only ensuring that the local is replaced with the outsider who is ready to sleep with them and not complain. They may operate under the guise of secularists, saffronites or socialists but ultimately they are all enjoying non-vegetarian buffet of sex, wine and song. From sunburn to full moon it is all covered by the red light that glows and zooms down the street with howlers of their escort vehicles. Wake up fellow goans from your slumber and stem this rot that will completely engulf the face of Goa in just few months from now.

The Goan cannot expect that the malyalee, Bengali or the Delhiyite is going to save Goa. They are all here to win over local confidence and make their buck while keeping goans content and rolling in the muck of flattery and sweet talk. They will support your konkani, anti-RP struggle and demand for special status only to the extent that it benefits their purse and ensures that their stay in the land of fun and feni is guaranteed while their kit and kin swell in numbers in this paradise of the foolish and blind goans who cannot see their pathetic state. They well know that locals sedated with cash and praise are ever ready to sell not only their lands but also their women to the marauding forces of non-goans.

The only choice remaining before goans is to abolish the rape and plunder or to perish to the designs of neo-colonialists. Goans will have to abolish their susegadism and door-mat mentality to unitedly rise and face the onslaught carried out in the guise of development and progress. True liberation is yet to be won. We have only been conquered by the neo-colonialists but are not yet liberated.

Soter.