OBITUARY -- Willie Gomes It is with deep regret and sorrow I am writing these few lines on the late Willie Gomes who died on 29th of last month in Goa. He was during his long years of stay in Kuwait about 30 years, one of the pillars of Goan community. He served Goan community thru his compassiaonate and helpful work by which he helped many of our young boys in getting jobs, not only in the organization where he worked in a responsible position but also outside thru his personal contacts. He came to Kuwait somewhere in 1972-73 from Goa. He did his early education in Portuguese up to Segundograu at Collegio Diocesan de Sant Antonio, Desua, Chinchinnim somewhere in 1959. Then he finished his further astudies in English at Loyola and came to Kuwait after working for some time in Margao for Woodlands..
After coming to Kuwait he joined Tanagra as we commonly know that company. It is a huge and reputed organization employing many Goans, most of them were inducted there thru his good offices. Willie’s one major attribute was that he loved helping Goan people and as a sign of his gratitude on 4th of this month 7.15 p.m. in the Church at Kuwait City so many people attended the especial Eucharistic Service held for his soul. Fr. Melwyn even without knowing him personally, in his homily praised the congregation for attending this service. Though none of his close family members is in Kuwait yet the attendance for this Mass by a good number of people gave an evidence of Willie’s good deeds, said Fr. Melwyn. This is a sign of Willies good work in the community. Many times for such memorial services we see many people attending because of the close relatives of the deceased who are in Kuwait and in many cases people attend such servies only to please the relatives of the dead in Kuwait. But in Willie's case it is something different. Inspite of having no close relatives in Kuwait, Willie's memorial service turned out to be that of the real Goan hero, sung, praised and rememberd by all the good hearted people. All who attended that memorial service were not his beneficiaries but deffinetely all were admirers of his helful nature to anyone who needed, not necessarily known to him.
In 1979 when we initiated our soccer activities at Sour Grounds I came in contact with him. He was in the beginning not very well conversant with me yet he was very respectfully wishing me and admiring me for the work I do in the promotion of our soccer. He always appreciated my writings in praise of his team Goan Sporting, of course deservingly and my especial singling for praises for few players of his team namely forwards Tony D’Costa, Peter and Laximikant, midfielder Cajetan Godinho, deep defenders Philip and Pompadour whom he too admired the most. He even once told me and complimented me saying “Veronica, your writings make our football more popular. Veronica you alone can make our soccer more interesting because you give minute details of all the players because you know them all very well in Kuwait and in Goa too before they came to Kuwait. And as a renwoned footballer, you know the art of writing better than enybody elese". This was his big compliment to me then.
As a big man of Goan Sporting he shouldered major responsibil;ites of his team. He was always present at Sour Grounds to attend our matches, not only when Goan Sporting playing but even otherwise. In the initial stages our matches were held in the afternoons at 3.30 p.m. and he was always there with his huge, fair and attractive body.along with his entourage of close associates and friends He was traceable for our matches by his big shouts and loud encouraging of his boys with the words “Chod Re, Chodd Re” meaning jump higher in the air over the opponent to outbeat him in the aerial duel and then he would laugh and laugh loudly with full of enjoyment. Along with him other friends of his would also follow thus creating lot of fun on the ground which we all used to enjoy too.
Though he was so deep rooted in our soccer from the initial stages yet he never volunteered to join KIFF and put things into order there. According to one source, he always found KIFF members at least many as sub standard, uncultured, illiterate in soccer laws, ignortant of soccer and revengeful in nature. Hence, to associate with such people was below his dignity. Though he had huge and majestic physical stature yet otherwise he was a very mild and docile man. He was by character a very loving person. Even if there is any commotion on the ground while playing or even outside he would come running and separate the warring factions and create peace there. And as a matter of interest his word had respect. He would never allow his players and supporters to create commotion on and off the field and even if some occurances occurred, he would personally apologise. Such was his nature and character. It was he who was mainly responsible to brighten the image of Goan Sporting then and was responsible to gain a goodwill for Goan Sporting.
I admire him most not only for encouraging our soccer but more than that because of his helpful nature in employing so many of our young boys especially those who had no Godfather. In Kuwait unless you have a “wasta” or Godfather or Godmother you cannot get a decent job in a decent organization. If you have nobody to help you in getting a job leave aside a decent job, then you are like an orphan. Willie eradicated this orphan type of feeling from many of the jobs. Those whom he helped were not his relatives, some of them were even not known to him earlier.
Here in Kuwait jobs especially in selective sectors are dominated by few families and if any person not known to them approaches them then they will give an excuse saying, "Oh, No, now they dont accept Indians". But when they have their own people then things turn out to be opposite. In Kuwait amongst Goans jobs in lucrative sectors are reserved and monopolised by few handful families. They will not lose their grips from these jobs which they reserve only for their close relatives and "Daijis" even if they are yet to born. If they come to know any of their relatives is pregnant and expecting a child soon, then from this point only they keep their eyes on the new jobs in the lucrative sectors reserved for their new born but will not help the immediate needy.Willie Gomes was not of that type of a man. He would even share his heart with the needy.
Even though he did so much for our soccer and especially for Goan Sporting yet he never displayed his cheapness for photographs. One would rarely see his photos even along with his victorious team in the Magazines for Socials or in the local newspapers. He always refrained from being cheap especially with cheap people. He never craved for cheap publicity nor even for deserving publicity. Before his leaving for good from Kuwait a few years, I asked to interview him so that his achievements I could highlight. But as usual, shy for publicity, he just smiled and closed this subject. That was his nature.
Inspite of his vast influence and abilities, he confined his activities only to soccer. Never he associated with us openly for any of our Goan causes especially for Konkani when he was a great lover of Konkani. But he allowed and supported his younger brother Oscar who left from Kuwait some years back, to join Kuwait Konknni Kendr and support its cause. KKK is the only organisation that worked hard for the cause of Konkani and put a strong base for the promotion of Konkani activities in Kuwait, including Tiatros.
In his death we lost a great man, great because he helped the needy in getting jobs. In his death his memory should not be allowed to die. Instead his memory should be kept alive by organising a memorial tournament at Sour Grounds either 11-a-side or 7-a-side one day festival. And on 29th of this month when he completes one month for his death, his close associates should organise a Condolence Meeting in Kuwait City, preferably at Village Inn, to remember all his good deeds. In case any assistance is required from my side, I am ready. But in his death, Willie should not remain a forgotten Goan hero. Willie Gomes belongs not only to his close associates and friends. Willie Gomes belongs to all Goans who loved the good of Goans in Kuwait.
May His Soul Rest In Peace. And may God give courage for his family to bear this colossal loss.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
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A frequent, chronological publication – exclusive, unpublished and hybrid personal thoughts of A. Veronica Fernandes -- can now be read at http://goa-kranti.blogspot.com/
