A few years back in Dubai, for the soccer final of one Goan organised tournament, there was some confusion because of referee’s mistake. One of the Goan finalist teams protested and refused to cooperate to complete the remainder of the match unless referee’s decision was reversed. There was total chaos on the field. The Chief Guest of the final one of the top Indian Diplomats based in UAE even condescended and pleaded with the protesting Goan team to cooperate but the protesting team refused. It was considered a big insult to the Indian diplomat and in reality it was so. Since then, I believe from my source that Indian Diplomat based in UAE refuse to come for any soccer activities organised by Goans. This means, according to my information, Indian Embassy put Goan soccer under its black list.
Since last year there is a dispute going on in Indian Soccer activities in Kuwait. Till last year our soccer activities were conducted under the apex soccer body known as Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF) which was initiated by Goans and majority of those involved in KIFF are Goans only. In other words KIFF is overwhelmingly manned by Goans. Because of big number of Goans involved in KIFF soccer, it is called as Goan soccer only though other Bhararis from other parts of Bharat residing in Kuwait are also part of this KIFF soccer.
Last year due to some minor differences which could have been easily sorted out if KIFF management was really interested in maintaining unity, volcanic eruption took place and Indian Football Federation (IFF) was born. Those teams could not agree with KIFF dictates joined with IFF and successfully organised their schedule. However, this year saner counsel prevailed and IFF members agreed to rejoin the parent body KIFF by closing IFF, in order to bring about Unity amongst us once again. There is a strong consensus among majority of Goans in Kuwait for the Unity step taken by IFF. Everybody wants to forget the past and bury it once and for all and join the unity move. Taking this view into consideration, some Unity lover Goans from IFF went to Indian Ambassador who without any hesitation gave his green signal for this unity move personally instructing KIFF to take back all the IFF members without any precondition. This proposal Indian Ambassador gave in order to bring about Unity amongst all who are involved in our soccer. It was a big step on the part of Indian Ambassador to condescend and take up this issue when His Excellency is preoccupied in his job handling bigger issues. It was very nice on the part of Indian Ambassador to intervene in this matter to create a peaceful atmosphere amongst us, mainly amongst Goans.
Our soccer under KIFF is like ‘Buddkulleancho Khell’ unrecognised by any Kuwaiti Official authority. It is big only for small minded people involved in it mainly the organisers who were nowhere back at home before coming to Kuwait. They think KIFF is bigger than FIFA. Finally, KIFF refused to oblige Indian Ambassador thereby showing its arrogance to the highest Indian authority based in Kuwait to help Indians. By rejecting Indian Ambassador’s appeal for reconciliation peacefully without any precondition KIFF manned by Goans in greater number put Goan community into very embarrassing position thereby giving a very stubborn and arrogant image of Goans. Frankly speaking Goan community is very accommodating but Goans in KIFF are just the opposite because they like negativism. None of the Goans involved in the KIFF has done anything extraordinary for the cause of community. None of them was involved in promoting the great Goan movements initiated by Kuwait Goans. If they had little sense and wisdom, they would have averted its break up last year itself even by undergoing some sacrifices. Managing an organisation successfully is not a joke, it requires sacrifices and give and take attitude to accommodate the opponents' viewpoints for the ultimate goal for success.
Successful management is based not only on professionalism but also on tactful skills on the part of its managers and leaders to overcome all the hurdles tactfully without creating any rift, if necessary even by surrendering some of its rights and previlleges. Then only success comes. Now since last year there is no success in KIFF, only failure because of its split. For this failure only the KIFF management is responsible because they failed to rise to the occasion. KIFF brought into existence to unite all and not to disunite and to maintain Unity of all. KIFF management should have done everything under its control to avoid split. Disunity in KIFF and formation of IFF is the greatest failure of KIFF of 2009-10-11 seasons for which all KIFF members should put their heads down in shame. In the history of Kuwait Goans in particular and Indians in general, the worst, the most arrogant, the most destructive and most anti-Goan and anti-Indian managing committee of KIFF is of 2009 – 10 -11 because it failed to stop division in its fold.
Those who are running the KIFF show are acting like unsocial elements. They have no respect for Indian Ambassador even. Are these people from society or from herd? What is their gains by closing all the doors of reconciliation for Unity? In this dispute, the major victims are Goans. The good image of Goans is destroyed beyond repairs by the Goans involved in KIFF. They should be held responsible for damaging our image in Kuwait. They may think they have done the right thing but history will judge them differently. For me KIFF is a big joke because it has history of manning it by people of dubious character such as Robbers, Drunkards, those underwent imprisonment in Kuwaiti prisons and crooks.
AVC Kuwait shortly will organise soccer tournament in Dubai. Its members must call a meeting of Goans in Dubai and tell openly who are the Goans in Kuwait working against Goan unity. If possible, Goans in IFF must join together and issue a Press Release to Goan Dailies exposing the arrogance of KIFF Goans. Let every Goan know what type of arrogant Goans are in Kuwait who does not even care for Indian Ambassador and on top of it they call themselves Indians holding Indian Passports.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
August 31, 2010
Navelim Footballer Marshall dies in Cayman Islands
Navelim Footballer Marshall dies in Cayman Islands
By Gasper Crasto / Kuwait for www.goa-world.com/
According to information received from friends, the ever enthusiastic Marshall was on his morning jog with a friend when he suffered a cardiac arrest.
Marshall leaves behind his beloved wife Zeeta and two lovely daughters Haylee and Lynsey.
Son of Feliciano and Rosalina from Telaulim-Navelim, Marshall was a well-known footballer in Navelim right from the early 90s when he started playing for UCT–Telaulim, and Navelim Sporting. He played as a striker for MPT for several years and was a bright prospect before injuries forced him to leave the sport and head for Cayman Islands.
Besides being a good player, Marshall was known to be very humble and a friendly person among the Goan football fraternity. A dynamic personality involved in all kinds of activities on the football field and in the church, he was also a member of the All Goa award winning choir - Serenaders of Telaulim.
Efforts are being made for the mortal remains to be flown to Goa. Funeral date will be announced in due course.
Goan footballers in Kuwait join fellow friends around the world in conveying heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of beloved Marshall Coutinho and pray that God may strengthen them to bear the sad loss. 
By Gasper Crasto / Kuwait for www.goa-world.
Kuwait: Marshall Coutinho, ex-footballer of Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) and Navelim Sporting, died in the Cayman Islands on 30th August 2010.
According to information received from friends, the ever enthusiastic Marshall was on his morning jog with a friend when he suffered a cardiac arrest.
Marshall leaves behind his beloved wife Zeeta and two lovely daughters Haylee and Lynsey.
Son of Feliciano and Rosalina from Telaulim-Navelim, Marshall was a well-known footballer in Navelim right from the early 90s when he started playing for UCT–Telaulim, and Navelim Sporting. He played as a striker for MPT for several years and was a bright prospect before injuries forced him to leave the sport and head for Cayman Islands.
Besides being a good player, Marshall was known to be very humble and a friendly person among the Goan football fraternity. A dynamic personality involved in all kinds of activities on the football field and in the church, he was also a member of the All Goa award winning choir - Serenaders of Telaulim.
Efforts are being made for the mortal remains to be flown to Goa. Funeral date will be announced in due course.
Goan footballers in Kuwait join fellow friends around the world in conveying heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of beloved Marshall Coutinho and pray that God may strengthen them to bear the sad loss.
:::Some Memories of Marshall:::
Navelim Footballer Marshall dies in Cayman Islands
Navelim Footballer Marshall dies in Cayman Islands
By Gasper Crasto / Kuwait for www.goa-world.com/
According to information received from friends, the ever enthusiastic Marshall was on his morning jog with a friend when he suffered a cardiac arrest.
Marshall leaves behind his beloved wife Zeeta and two lovely daughters Haylee and Lynsey.
Son of Feliciano and Rosalina from Telaulim-Navelim, Marshall was a well-known footballer in Navelim right from the early 90s when he started playing for UCT–Telaulim, and Navelim Sporting. He played as a striker for MPT for several years and was a bright prospect before injuries forced him to leave the sport and head for Cayman Islands.
Besides being a good player, Marshall was known to be very humble and a friendly person among the Goan football fraternity. A dynamic personality involved in all kinds of activities on the football field and in the church, he was also a member of the All Goa award winning Choir - Serenaders of Telaulim.
Efforts are being made for the mortal remains to be flown to Goa. Funeral date will be announced in due course.
Goan footballers in Kuwait join fellow friends around the world in conveying heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of beloved Marshall Coutinho and pray that God may strengthen them to bear the sad loss.
By Gasper Crasto / Kuwait for www.goa-world.
Kuwait: Marshall Coutinho, ex-football player of Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) and Navelim Sporting, died in the Cayman Islands on 30th August 2010.
According to information received from friends, the ever enthusiastic Marshall was on his morning jog with a friend when he suffered a cardiac arrest.
Marshall leaves behind his beloved wife Zeeta and two lovely daughters Haylee and Lynsey.
Son of Feliciano and Rosalina from Telaulim-Navelim, Marshall was a well-known footballer in Navelim right from the early 90s when he started playing for UCT–Telaulim, and Navelim Sporting. He played as a striker for MPT for several years and was a bright prospect before injuries forced him to leave the sport and head for Cayman Islands.
Besides being a good player, Marshall was known to be very humble and a friendly person among the Goan football fraternity. A dynamic personality involved in all kinds of activities on the football field and in the church, he was also a member of the All Goa award winning Choir - Serenaders of Telaulim.
Efforts are being made for the mortal remains to be flown to Goa. Funeral date will be announced in due course.
Goan footballers in Kuwait join fellow friends around the world in conveying heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of beloved Marshall Coutinho and pray that God may strengthen them to bear the sad loss.
:::Some of Marshall's Memories:::
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