In the final match of the soccer tournament at Poriat Ground,
Calangute, organized by Calangute Association, on Sunday 8th
of this month, Candolim defeated Calangute in a Tie-breaker when both the teams played a goalless draw during the
normal time. Though Calangute had an upper
hand to clinch the glittering Rolling Trophy yet it was Candolim that won the day in
the final watched by lot of spectators mainly from both the villages and also
from the neighboring villages. Though it was a competitive clash between the
two neighbours yet it was played in a very friendly atmosphere where even the
spectators showed their friendly nature. The final score was 4-2. The chief
guest of the day was MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco and guest of honour Ms Pascoala
Fernandes – the village Sarpanch. As special invitees among others present were
local Pe. Vigar Fr. Cypriano D’Silva, Joseph Sequeira ex Sarpanch and others.
The winners were awarded with the Trophy and cash prize of Rs. 40,000/- while
the runners-up with Rs. 30,000/-.
This tournament for the second year consequently was
sponsored by Hotel Goan Heritage – Calangute.
Seen are both the teams to be introduced to the guests
During those good old days when both the neighbours played
there was lot of excitement in the game as those players had class in them
having mastery in accurate passing, shooting, running and controlling the ball.
During those days players from both the teams made use of their brain power
more than foot power. Besides they had physical stature befitting their class
of soccer.
On Sunday in the final there was no acrobatic goalkeeper Peter
Gomes under the bar of Calangute goal, so also there was no gigantic defender like
Joshe to man the defence line of Calangute, neither there was no midfield
maestro Bhaskar to orchestrate their midfield. In their forward line Calangute lacked
the genius of Eustaqio, Alex Coutinho and Paklu. In fact Eustaqio was such an
excellent sharp shooter that he was scoring goals even direct from the corner
kicks thru his right leg. All these yesteryears
players of Calangute were not only the great footballers who brought name and
fame for their village but they were Calangute legends whose memory will not
easily relinquish from my mind. I played against them and experienced the
beauty of their soccer skill.
About Candolim, there was no Razo under their bar nor
defender Andrew Machado and Ladru to repel the opponents attacks
successfully. In their half line there
was no Jose Marie, no Madhu, no Kamal who were not only playing football but
like magicians entertaining the spectators with the ball on their feet and
also in aerial duels where Jose Marie was exceptionally talented of whose type
you cannot see now. He had his genius in scoring goals thru header from the
corner kicks. In their forward line
there was none to compare the indomitable duo of strikers Cheddo whose power
packed right footers were just a thriller and Babazinho Machado whose dribbling
power was just unmatchable. All these
whose names I mentioned can be easily called the Candolim legends on whose feet
on soccer ground the name and honour of Candolim revolved.
Quality wise from what I saw in this final and that too after
a long gap in Goa, the standard of football in our locality is very poor and
this has to be raised by hiring good coaches and by establishing football academies
in both the villages to develop the performance of the boys. These academies
must focus their attention on very young boys by imparting them with necessary
skills. To do this the finance can be collected
from the hoteliers from the localities. As it is this time Hotel Goan Heritage
gave Rupees Two Lakhs. There are so many
big hotels in Candolim and Calangute and they should be approached by the local
authorities to contribute for the establishment of the soccer academies. We
have heard how elsewhere Hoteliers were pushed to sponsor the top
footballers. The hoteliers from
Calangute and Candolim are duty bound to support local projects for the development
of the localities. In our localities they make lot of money and as such they
must be made to share their profit with the localities.
Now, the ball is in the court of sports authorities of
Calagute and Candolim. They must make the first move.
