OPEN LETTER TO CHIEF MINISTER OF GOA. By Roger D'Souza.

Dear Mr Digambar Kamat,

Warm Greetings for the Diwali Season and the Festival of Lights from all Goans. We sincerely hope that Good will prevail over Evil for Goa, but alas to our dismay at this time it doesn't seem to be! As concerned Goans voicing our opinion about the destruction of Goa even our children will be busy during their Diwali Holidays writing to you to beg you to heed the voices of Goans who are alarmed at the wanton destruction of Goa and the Government of Goa's total disregard to the pleas of the Goans that the RP-2021 per the wishes of the people be ratified!


What a way to be celebrating Diwali which should be a joyous time for our children and for the young and old in Goa! Likewise village after village have had to put aside the time for celebration in order to now prevail on our MLAs that we mean business and ensure that the strong message we send will reach the Government of Goa and to you.


Nowadays we seem to be dodged with Section 144 every step of the way to keep the people away from the Government. Four long years have passed and we've seen that there is a planned conspiracy on the part of the Government of Goa not to heed the voices of the people. Many a Diwali, Id and Christmas have come and gone but it's shocking to see that the wishes and mandate of the Goan people is being consistently ignored by the Government of Goa. All we see is more destruction of Goa being wrought by the Real Estate, Mining, Hotel, Casinos, pollutant industries, Navy, Roadways, Railways whereas the Goan people and Goa being subject to all sorts of vile and devious projects which do not serve the interests of the people.


The time has come to tell you our Chief Minister and our MLAs that there is only so much to the patience of the Goan people and we need the Government of Goa to heed the wishes of the people and notify the Regional Plan and freeze development in eco-sensitive zonesOur Goan villages continue to be up in arms against the Government’s destruction of Goa this Diwali Season.

After Benaulim, Chandor, Chicalim, Tivim tomorrow it’s Cansaulim November 9th at 6:00pm where people will gather to have their voices heard and send a strong message to you and the Government of Goa. As is evident from the village meetings, the heat is on the MLAs and the Government of Goa to work for the people and not against them. Village after village has clearly given an ultimatum to their MLAs and in turn the Government of Goa be it Tivim, Benaulim, Chicalim, Chandor.It’s high time that the Government of Goa realises that it cannot go against the wishes of the people of Goa. They should read the writing on the wall and not take us for granted.

The anguish and pain of the Goan people are echoed through the sentiments expressed below by many Goans. To quote some of the views which have been reported by the media: "The state is becoming a terrorist, imposing outdated ideas of development on the people," Bicholim-based activist Ramesh Gawas said. Projects, be they SEZs, mega projects, mining, tourism ventures, are being imposed for the benefit of a few. These keep people busy at various levels, but all should unite to fight government's anti-people policies, he added.

Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) convener Sabina Martins said the government had no interest in finalizing RP 2021, which had people's suggestions for protection of agricultural land, water bodies and eco-sensitive zones. "Eco-sensitive zones such as hill slopes, ponds, forests have to be mapped in the plan," she said, adding that this is what people had marked in revised plans sent to the town and country planning department.

Goenchea Xetkarancho Ekvott member Bismarque Dias said, "The earth is crying and the cry of the earth is that of the poor," Mopa Vimantal Pidit Shetkari Samiti (Mopa International Airport Affected Farmers Committee) representative Sandip Kambli said all politicians had become brokers in the sale of land, depriving villagers and it was time to take the land back. Jaganath Dhulapkar of Dhulapi said villagers who had tilled or taken care of their ancestral land for centuries were dispossessed because of the politicians' policy of keeping people aside.

GBA's Miguel Braganza said development should be what people want and not what is promised by promoters of projects, which is never fulfilled. Village Groups of Goa representative John Philip Pereira said wherever there are illegalities, the people should keep fighting. Seby Rodrigues of GOAMAP said that genuine tenants are often termed as encroachers for no reason.
A villager from Chandor, Luel Fernandes stressed on the need to retain the village identity and character, saying that Goans would be reduced to a minority if the villagers are converted into urban area.


We Goans strongly urge you while you celebrate during this Diwali, and you recently celebrated three years of being Chief Minister and now prepare for the grand celebrations for Goa's 50 years, that you spare a thought for Goa and Goans. For us Goans you've taken the joy of celebrating and instead heap pain, injury and sorrow on Goa and Goans. We Goans hope that you and your MLAs and the Government of Goa take the time to spare some thought to what we Goans want for Goa and Goans this Diwali Season. To the Government of Goa please heed the wishes of the people and do not take Goa and Goans for granted. May this festive Season of Lights dispel the darkness and bring in Light for Goa and Goans!In deep sorrow during this Diwali Season,

Anguished Goans

FATHER & SON CREATED HISTORY IN SOCCER.

Seen above in the picture are Father Cajetan and Son Clive

On 5th of this month in Kuwait history has been created by a Goan duo – father and son – by playing soccer together for the same team. It was during the final between UFC and G.O.A. Maroons when both Cajetan Godinho and his young son a student of MBA visiting his father in Kuwait, played together for the final winning team UFC. Both father and son playing together for one team and that too in the final is something unique and this unique record created was seen by all the people who came to watch the final. Report of the final is given below.

We have seen not only two but even three brothers playing for the same team together. Goveia brothers from Colva playing together for the same team and two of them for the then mighty Shantilal in Goa was seen by the spectators. Myself and my other two elder brothers played together for Candolim team when we won All Goa Inter village soccer tournament in 1964 conducted by GFA and two of us together for the then powerful team SESA GOA when Sesa was Goa champion.

At world level we saw how Charlton brothers, Bobby and Jackie played for the World Cup wining team England in 1966. Like this, we have innumerable examples.

We also saw for charity soccer matches how celebrities and VIP’s playing together with the current popular players. Maradona once played along with his country’s president Carlos Mennem to raise funds for a worthy cause.

In Cricket we saw how both the Pathan brothers playing together for India. Earlier we saw how Chappel Bros, Greg and Ian played together so well for Australia.

But what our Cajetan and his son Clive did in Kuwait on 5th of this month is something to be recorded in the world record book. Separately, I am going to inform FIFA Headquarters about this unique happening created by Goans in Kuwait.

Cajetan Godinho hailing from Majorda Goa is the senior most footballer amongst Goans in Kuwait. When we first initiated our competitive soccer under the leadership of United Goans in 1979 Cajetan Godinho was top player playing for the then mighty Goan Sporting Club. We played together for a long time not for the same team but for the two different teams but he survived as a good player to create a record while I stopped a long time back. From 1979 till now playing means something great and that greatness is strongly embedded in his body and mind. He is not only a good midfielder but more than that he is a very decent and cool minded gentleman player. I during the last so many years have never seen him receiving a Red Card. Not only on the field he was decent and clean but also outside the playing ground he is decent, clean and tidy possessing a very good moral character.

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Kuwait.

UFC LIFTS UGC TROPHY FOR THE 2ND TIME.

The final of the 35th edition of the UGC Trophy was played on MOH grounds Shuwaikh under the auspices of KIFF. It began at 8:30am with the national anthem of Kuwait and India being played. The chief guest Mrs. Valencia D’souza, brand manager of Trafalgar trading and guest of honor Mr. Shibu Ninan, manager of national air cargo, KIFF president Fidelis Fernades and all the presidents of different clubs greeted the UFC and Goa Maroons players before the start of play. Both teams began playing defensively and were looking to attack on the counter. It would be Goa Maroons who would have the first shot on target from a long ball provided by Sandy, but the keeper was equal to the task. It would be UFC chance next as Hemanth Kumar stepped up with a shot on target, but it did not trouble the keeper Gomes of Maroons. Ten minutes into the game, Goa Maroons failed to clear the ball and no. 8 Juzer Bankoda volleyed in a great shot to take UFC into the lead. UFC began to dominate proceedings after the first goal and were passing the ball nicely among them and kept more possession of the ball. Ian Dsouza and Alex of Goa Maroons were kept busy at the back and they did well to repel all the attacks from UFC. Goa Maroons were lacking in attacking options and did not pose a threat to UFC in the first half.

Goa Maroons started the second half with a shot on target straight away by Ian Dsouza and he would have another chance later on but he had sent over the bar. All the spectators were expecting a comeback from Goa Maroons after a great start to the second half. Goalkeeper Martin of UFC was kept busy during the second half as Goa Maroons substitutes began to make an impact on the game. Teotonio Fernandes stood out as the wall of the back and kept Goa Maroons away from scoring an equalizer. He was awarded the man of the match award for his brilliant performance. Cajetan Godinho came in the second half and has a record for being the longest player to have played without receiving a card. He had a great attempt on goal placing the ball to the extreme corner of the goal and the Maroons keeper Gomes made a full stretch dive to keep the ball out. Late in the second half, Ricky Sebastian made a surging run towards the orange goal and with a quick glance up took a good directed shot surpassing the keeper but only to find the crossbar. This was the best chance Maroons had in the game. In the end, the lone goal from Juzer would be enough to separate the two sides and see UFC win back to back UGC finals.

Mr. Edwin D’cruz concluded the master of ceremony. Asst. General Secretary Joseph Gonsalves thanked the chief guest and guest of honor for giving their precious time in spite of their busy schedules. He also thanked individual sponsors Marian Fernandes, Amaldo Fernandes, Nicolas Rodrgiues, Lawrence Pereira, Vaclau D’cruz and all KIFF affiliated clubs and members. Guest of honor, Shibu gave the runners up trophies to the individual Goa Maroons players and finally the chief guest presented the winner’s trophy to the UFC captain.The top scorer of the tournament was bagged by Jagadesh of Indian Strikers. Man of the match went to Teotonio Fernandes of UFC.The Best Disciplined team went to DHL which was given in memory of late president Joe Fernandes.The housie prize was received by Mr. Agnelo Fernandes from vice president Brigidio Fernandes.The gifts for the referees were distributed by KIFF president Mr.Fidelis Fernandes and the memento for the chief guest Valencia D’sozua was given by President of UGC Pascoal Alfonso.
Pictures of the finals and all the matches of the tournament are available on our website under the pictures tab: www.unitedgoanscentre.com