THE LATE PETER COLACO.

It is with deep grief and chagrin I write these few lines on our friend and colleague the late Mr. Peter Colaco who died an untimely and sudden death on 13th of this month while still on Kuwait Airways flight in the morning. He boarded the flight early in the morning in Bombay and while flying to Kuwait just before flight landing at Kuwait International Airport, he breathed his last, leaving behind his sorrowful wife and daughter who according to information is reading for her Doctorate, the cause of his death was Heart Attack. Seen in the photo above is the late Peter Colaco.

Peter Colaco was a long timer in Kuwait, first time I came in contact with him was in 1979 when we played competitive soccer at Sour ground, he was playing for United Goans Strikers as an attacking forward. Though he was muscular boy having athletic body features yet he always played a calm and cool game. It was very difficult to control his dashing bursts near the goalmouth. He was aggressive shooter in both his leg and exceptionally good in the aerial duels having good height also. While playing he was always cool, never argued with referees nor with his opponents. Retaliation was his last option. He was quick in running near the citadel of his opponents. He always worked for the promotion of our soccer either as a player or organizer. During those days he played with some of the top Goan players for UG Strikers and during his time most of the championships were won by UG and Peter Colaco was one of the players responsible for UG Strikers success. During those days especially in the beginning there were lot of commotions and controversies on and off the field and many of the controversies were the making of UG but Peter Colaco always refrained from joining these controversies, on the contrary he tried to bring about peace among the warring factions. In his death a peacemaker has disappeared from our midst.

Peter Colaco is seen in the picture at extreme left holding a Banner in support of the freedom of Kuwait POW's. Navelim were the winners of first ever 7-A-Side soccer tournament organised at Sour ground after the liberation of Kuwait. (Photo courtesy: Lino Fernandes - Nuvem)

Being the citizen of the land Navelim that gave birth to the great Goan Patriot Dr. Francisco Luis Gomes, Peter Colaco loved Goa, Goan causes and Goan language Konkani. Though he was not very vocal in Goan causes yet he many times supported my activities in support of Goa, Konkani and Goan causes. At three to 4 times he attended our meetings held at my residence for the cause of Goa, Goans and Konkani. He was very logical in his arguments and always discussed the matter with clarity and logic. He loved to put forth his views with clear conclusion so that others participating in the discussion always accepted his version. He was not robust in his discussion nor rough, he maintained his decency always. It was pleasure to discuss with him some finer points of the subject. He was always decent in his talk and dress code.

In his death not only Navelkars lost one of their colleagues but Goans in Kuwait lost a great man coming from the Goan village that gave birth to the first Cardinal of India, Cardinal Valerian Gracias who inaugurated the Holy Family Cathedral in Kuwait City.

May the soul of our Peter Colaco rest in peace and may the Heavenly Father give courage to his wife and daughter to bear this colossal loss.

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Kuwait.