Today, 20.05.16 GFA revived the historic Bandodcar Gold Cup. It is heartening news. It was in 1969 at MCC
Ground Margao, during the final of Taca
Goa played between Sesa Goa and Vasco that the then GFA president Mr. Parkot
requested Shri D.B. Bandodcar, the then Chief Minister of Goa, to help GFA to organize a major soccer tournament
in Goa, I was then playing for Sesa Goa and was a witness to what was spoken there .
Responding to Parkot, in his speech as a
Chief Guest, Bandodcar immediately agreed and thus this Trophy was born in his
name.
Politically, I differ
in his views but in sports I fully agree with him and one thing one must accept
that what services he rendered for Goan sports none has done, of course with
the exception of Fr. Mendonca the then Principal of St. Joseph High School
Arpora that produced the mightiest sportsmen of Goa then.
During its first edition
itself Bandodcar Gold Cup tournament turned out to be a big success where flood
of spectators poured on to the stadium at Vasco where in the final, Leaders Club
of Jullundur, Punjab, skippered by the then skipper of India, Inder Singh, defeated Goa’s Salgaocar. Inder Singh became the darling of the Goans due to his sheer
skill in dribbling, shooting and running when he was sprinting 100 metres in 11
seconds. After the final, he was presented
with a costly Gold Chain in appreciation of his excellent display of soccer.
I welcome the revival
of this tournament and wish the organizers all success.
A.Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.
Tel: 750739349.
