Seen in the picture above are the winners UFC.United Goans Center, on Friday, 19th of this month at 9.00 AM, held the final of the 34th edition of their soccer tournament at Ministry of Health Ground, Shuwaikh, Kuwait. The final was played between the winners United Friends Club and the runners-up CRC Chinchinnim, the winners clinched the victory by one goal without reply, the all important goal was scored by UFC’s Rosario Fernandes from the spot kick in the first half. UGC organized this tournament under the auspices of Kuwait Indian Football Federation and co-sponsored by Gulf Bank, Kuwait. The Fair Play Team award in the name of former UGC President, the late Joe Fernandes, was presented to KGA.
United Goans Center is the oldest surviving soccer Club of Indians in Kuwait. It was established in 1976 and it started its first competitive soccer tournament for Indians in general and Goans in particular at the then famous Sour Ground in 1979. To initiate the first ever soccer tournament in 1979, UGC’s the then stalwarts namely Diogo Gomes from Bastora, Custodio Crasto from Navelim, Joe F.X. D’Souza from Assagao, Moses Menezes from Candolim, Tony Gonsalves from Divar, Joe Fernandes from Colva, Antonio Lawrence Fernades from Siolim and others gave their best not only to initiate but to keep it going. Some of the above named stalwarts are no more in Kuwait now, some are dead while some retired from Kuwait while Tony Gonsalves is still going strong and doing a wonderful job for the club and soccer with the help of the new comers, including Pascoal Afonso their current president. Because of the initiative of UGC then, soccer for us Goans and other Indians is still surviving and going strong. It is become a very good link for very many to get many positive benefits. The small and the first step initially taken by UGC then proved to be a momentous and gigantic, its titanic effects are still creating ripples amongst us in Kuwait.
Because of our football activities many boys got many benefits from their clubs, many unknown persons became known in society otherwise they would remain as non entities inspite of having position, power, status and money. For many of them, it was our soccer that made them famous. All of them should be grateful to UGC not only to create history but also to keep the history alive.
Since its inception, many great Goan players played soccer in our tournaments, some of them not only donning the colours of great Goan teams in Goa but many of them donning the colours of Goa and India. For this reason those days the standard of our soccer in Kuwait was high compared to what it is now. Many of those days players were seasoned and matured while coming to Kuwait itself and not the freshers as many are now who learnt to kick the football in Kuwait. Besides, during those days there was no dirty and unChristian politics going on as it is now for the destruction of our soccer and unity. Those who are involved in creating disorder and splits in the smooth functioning of our soccer have never played any role in the initial stages to promote our soccer in Kuwait, they never have experienced any hardship as UGC. Besides, UGC has sacrificed a lot not only to start but also to keep the momentum of our soccer going.
Seen in the picture below is Cajetan Godinho receiving a Memento (Donated by Mr. & Mrs. Joseph D'Souza) from UGC President Pascoal Afonso.
Seen in the picture above is Assumption Aguiar giving a Memento (Donated by Albano Pinto) to Miss Abigail Corte, the promising athlete from Indian community School, Salmiya.
Among all the current and yesteryears footballers, Cajetan Godinho from Majorda carries unique distinction to last for such a long period as a player. He played in the first ever league cum knock tournament initiated by UGC at Sour ground and from then till now for the last 30 years he is playing, though at slower pace now. In the beginning he represented now defunct but then mighty team Goan Sporting and the first and the inaugural match of the first ever tourney he played was against Salmiya Youth of Peter D’Souza(Bosch) which was captained by me. Cajetan Godinho was that time like a hero of the field controlling and orchestrating the midfielf majestically well though they lost to our team by two goals to nil but finally went on winning the final, played at Ahmadi KOC Ground defeating UGC, thanks to Cajetan Godinho’s super display of constructive soccer. Playing against him I know how difficult it was to fathom his moves. He was always clean and decent on the field never receiving any Card, neither Red nor Yellow, not even verbal caution from the the Umpires. During one final of Sheikh Agnelo's tournament at Sour Ground in mid eighties, the Brazilian Coach of Kuwait National Team, Carlos Lopes in his capacity as a Chief Guest selected Cajetan Godinho as the best player of the final and while delivering his speech in Portuguese showered abundant praises on Cajetan Godinho's socker skills. And when I spoke to him, Lopes remarked in Portuguese "Godinho!! Grande Jogador". As a mark of appreciation he was presented by the organizers with a Memento after the final on 19th.
One of the great Goan athletes of yesteryears who made his great mark on the Athletics Field of Goa and made his presence felt on that day for the final as a guest was Assumption Aguiar from Divar. During his school days at Monte de Guirim in mid sixties as a boarder, he was the fastest runner of Goa excelling in 100, 200 and 400 metres and with these three important items he won the individual Championship at All Goa Athletics Meet held at Dom Bosco Ground, Panjim in 1965-66. In that meet he even defeated the mighty Sardarjis from Cops of Signal (Millitary) stationed at Ponda and Bambolim. Special Sardarjis and other competent Millitary athletes were brought by the Goa based Indian military from other parts of India only to defeat our Goan Assumption Aguiar but our Aguiar made them mosquitoes. In that Meet in 1965-66, Aguiar was winning individual championship in senior division and I was winning individual championship in junior division also coming out first in 100, 200 and 400 metres, flying the flag of Lions of Arpora high, of course to the thunderous applauding of many of the ex Arporites who gathered to greet Arpora School athletes in that great Meet.
Seen in the picture below is Brigidio Fernandes giving the Man of the Trophy Award (Donated by Leo Coutinho).
Seen in the picture above is UGC stalwart Tony Gonsalves delivering his welcome speech. To his right is Mrs. Pascoal Afonso and to the extreme left wearing Sun Glasses is Mrs. Aguiar, next to her husband seated.After the final, in his speech the president of KIFF Fidelis Fernades praised the organizers for organising this tournament successfully. The president of UGC Pascoal Afonso proposed the vote of thanks while Tony Gonsalves welcomed the teams, guests and spectators.
