It is with deep regret and chagrin I got the news of the death of the
ex-Goan foot-baller George Candido Abreu popularly known as Candu Abreu. He was during his golden days when playing for Salgaocar Soprts club
was one of the best defenders of Goa manning the half line. It was somewhere in 1958 at Mapusa Duler
ground when I saw him playing for Salgaocars against the visiting Bombay Goans
team consisting of some of the top Goan
foot-ballers from Bombay, one of them was Olympian Neville D’Souza. Candu was given the task of marking tightly
the Goan genius Neville D’Suza but in the beginning itself Neville D’Souza tough
not on his peak form, dribbled the ball
past to Candu Abreu and from
outside the box released such a powerful left footer that Pompei under the
Salgaocar’s bar had no chance to save. This was the only brilliance our
Olympian Neville D’souza exhibited otherwise for rest of the game Candu
Abreu in his normal self never again
allowed Neville D’souza to move with the
ball freely. Later on when somebody
asked Neville, “how you were shadowed”,
replied Neville saying ‘even in the Olympics I was not marked as tightly as by Candu
Abreu.
Earlier I saw him at Nerul Foot-ball ground playing for his Village team
Taligao in the inter-village tournament where he was shining like a gold on the foot-ball ground.
During those days best of inter-village soccer in Bardez was played
at Arpora and Nerul where again
Candu Abreu showed his genius. In the aerial duels he would out beat any opponent
with the advantage of his height and he possessed very good ball-control. His cool temparement was his greatest asset. When I started my career for Sesa Goa as a
schoolboy, he was at his receding end
but I played against him many times.
It was just a thrill to play against him.
May his soul rest in peace.
A.Veronca Fernandes.
