CALANGUTE-ARPORA NEW BRIDGE.

Seen above the new Bridge, both sides.

 

The new Bridge at Arpora – Calangute was inaugurated by the Defence Minister of India Mr. Manohar Parrikar on Friday, 10^th of this month in the presence of a large gathering of villagers from neighbouring villages namely Calangute, Candolim, Sinquerim, Arpora, Nagoa, Baga and Parra. The main dignitaries who attended this function were the Chief Minister of Goa Mr. Parsenkar, PWD Minister Sudin Dhavlikar, local MLA Michael Lobo, former Pe. Cur of Candolim and now the current Pe. Vigar of Calangute Church Fr. Cypriano D’Silva and others. Missing on the scene were Calangute Panchayat representatives. Since this Bridge is linking Arpora with Calangute, the representative of Calangute Panchayat would have given a better look at the inauguration function.

 

Seen above is new Bridge, one side.

 

The old Bridge was in bad condition since a long time now, even during my schooling days at Arpora when for 8 years every day I was crossing this Bridge from Candolim on my Cycle. Almost every successive MLA from the point of first MLA Mr. J.M.D’Souza promised to do something for this Bridge but everybody failed.  Where everybody failed the current MLA Michael Lobo with perseverance and hard work succeeded in giving the new parallel Bridge. 

Seen above Michael Lobo & Dhavalikar

 

Luckily Mr. Lobo succeeded because his party BJP is ruling in Goa but similarly during the two terms of former defeated Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes, his party Congress was also ruling in Goa and yet he failed. This proves the dynamism and efficiency of Lobo in satisfying the needs of the constituents. In Calangute constituency roads have been repaired and done beautifully especially in the segments where the local Panchayats lent their full support to the local MLA. Road developments have been hampered only in the segments where the local Panchayats created hurdles for the local MLA to proceed smoothly. 

 

Seen attendees

 

I admire MLA Michael Lobo for his drive in developing his constituency but would not accept it as a favour from him nor from his ruling party BJP.  It was Lobo’s duty to fulfill his promise and that he did fulfill this promise is a great feat. 

 

A.  Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel: 7507394349.

 

 

 

 

TIATRO "REPORTER".

Jr. Sylvester Vaz sings opening solo. 

 

On 8th of this month I saw the new Tiatro “REPORTER” by Francis de Tuem at Pai Tiatrist Hall, Margao, starting at 3.35 pm and it was attended by the capacity crowd comprising 1000 + attendees. Though this is just the beginning yet the flood of crowd attending this show indicates the name and fame of the director who when after a brief period of working in Kuwait returned to Goa, some Goans in Kuwait made comments that he should not return but stay in Kuwait and make some money. It was a very wise decision of Francis de Tuem to say bi-bi to Kuwait because his need in Goa is imperative where he can fight for Goan causes from the Stage and in the bargain he can also make some money. Success is his, thanks to Lucasinho Ribeiro who initiated this art of Tiatro for others to follow and create progressive changes in our society besides getting plenty of popularity for them.

 

 

A scene where Reporter interviews Davlikar

 

A few months back I was interviewed by one American lady based in Bangalore, she was the representative of “Yahoo” in India.  When she requested me for an Interview on Tiatro and Tiatrists, I asked her how she knows me.  She replied,  Yahoo people are keeping abreast of this subject by reading my articles and reviews in Goa-Kranti and other sites on Internet.  Since Yahoo prepares some papers on Tiatro and Tiatrists, I was selected with the impression that I am a knowledgeable person in this field.  During the course of an interview, she asked me the standing of Francis de Tuem the Goan political singer.  This indicates that the image of Francis de Tuem is spread  even at international level.  It was a very proud moment for me to know the image of Goan Tiatrists rattling not only at Goa level but also at global level.  This is the power of Tiatro and Tiatrists.

Seen Francis de Tuem singing his political solo

 

The Tiatro “Reporter” is fully revolved around political arena where the focus of attention is a lady Reporter enacted nicely by Anita.  In this episode, there are latest interviews even on the subject of Bikini and Convent School.  The role of Dawlikar played by the artiste was very interesting and appropriate. The majestic role of a majestic politician played by ever shining Aplon is to be appreciated, so too of Sylvester Vaz.  The comedy roles played by all the comedians deserve highest compliments though they are all new faces, at least to me. 

Duo of father and son - Sylvester Vaz

 

Among the songs that deserve special mention  here are of Sylvester Vaz’s solo, a duo by Marcus Vaz along with his yesteryears Tiatrist father Master Vaz, Francis de Tuem’s solo and a duo by Sylvester Vaz and his son.

 

One more scene

 

Since this Tiatro is going to be staged almost all over Goa, I desist from giving details of the entire story but suggest everyone to watch this Tiatro because it is worth watching.

Well done Francis de Tuem.

 

                                           Father & Son duo - Master Vaz & Marcus


A.    Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.
Tel: 7507394349.  

SESA FOOTBALL ACADEMY CLOSING?

 

                            Seen above is the news item appeared in Herald of 4.4.15. 
                                           

I was deeply shocked and disturbed to read the sad news in Goa's daily dated 04.04.15 of  “closure of Sesa Football Academy”.  After closure of its soccer team a few years back, the great name of the great sport called Soccer was still glorified by Sesa by establishing its Foot-ball Academy thereby continuing Sesa’s service in the development of soccer in Goa. Once upon a time Sesa soccer team was a name and fame, not only in Goa but all over India as well.  It was officially initiated and formed in 1965 when Sesa Goa registered itself in the second division League tournament conducted by Goa Football Association in the Bardez segment.  Having failed to qualify for first division in the inception year under the skippership of Andrew Machado, it recruited some of the best players for its second attempt in 1966 to enter into the first division under the captaincy of Jose Marie Fernandes.  Mr. Conzen the great promoter and lover of Soccer, a German national working for Sesa at Sircaim, was the brain behind the formation of Sesa soccer team. 

I was then as a young Arpora school boy was one of the recruits of Sesa, Herculano Dourado as a young Bastora College boy was another who along with me was recruited on contract basis only to play football while the rest of the players were all employees of Sesa company. In that year we came out first putting Mazagon Dock, Vasco to the second spot and thus we as a mighty team qualified into senior division. That year we had good coaching under the Patiala qualified coach Mr. Iqbal who was a very strict disciplinarian and tactician too. It was because of his coaching that I became in that year fastest runner of Goa and also an individual champion of Goa at All Goa Interschool Athletics Meet. During that time to play for the mighty Sesa soccer team means like now playing for Real Madrid.  It was honour and prestige to play for Sesa Goa then.

                      It is me, Anthony Veronica Fernandes with Trophies in running as sprinter.

When we entered the senior division, Sesa was the mighty team and in its first year itself in the senior division Sesa won the League championship. Immediately we were invited to participate in the outstation tournaments mainly in the South where Sesa won many tournaments.  Within a short time Sesa became a household name in the South and some of its footballers were not only loved by the local fans there but were also mobbed even in the market places. 

During those days Sesa Goa was the mighty team in Goa having in its rank some of the finest players of Goa, overwhelming majority of them being Goans as Sesa’s European top management preferred Goans only.  Some of the best players who played for Sesa during that period along with me were the striking duo of Albino Fernandes of Merces and the late Visitacao Lobo from Parra who later on became the second Goan after Menino Figueredo of Salgaocar to represent India, in Soviet Russia. There is no brainy striker came into Goan soccer scene after Visitacao Lobo and there was none like Albino in Goa who could rattle the opponents’ bar with his power packed right footer.  Both of them were the precious jewels of Goan soccer of that era and also the darlings of soccer fans.

The team Sesa Goa was the solace not only for the players of Bardez but also from other parts of Goa providing them opportunities not only to play soccer and create name and fame for them in Goa and elsewhere but also providing them opportunities in getting permanent employment as Sesa were the biggest employers of Goan manpower.

I feel the good work Sesa did for Goan boys in developing them as fine footballers should not come to an end.  The government of Goa and the interested organizations and individuals must try to convince the Sesa Goa management to review its  decision for the good of Goan soccer. The drought of finance for Sesa will not remain permanently as we are already assured of the restarting of Mining in Goa shortly. Finance will surely come again but once Sesa Academy is closed, it will remain closed forever. This should not happen.

The impact Sesa Goa created on Goan soccer during the last so many years was so great that its legacy should not be allowed to die an instant death. Since Sesa Goa from the time of Portuguese rule in Goa minted money by excavating minerals from Goan soil and land, the same mighty Sesa Goa must continue to help the sons of this soil and land to develop as fine footballers.  As a gratitude to Goa from where it gained so much of wealth, Sesa Goa must continue on developing Goan soccer.  Sesa Goa at this juncture must not abandon its responsibilities towards Goans.

A.Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel: 7507394349.