GOAN FOOTBALL – IN GOA & KUWAIT….. II

In 1930’s at Burgan, Oil findings was noticed by the British but because of the World Wars I & II, no exploration was done. The Oil exploration finally went into action after the end of II World War. Because of Oil exploration, commercial activities in Kuwait increased especially at a place called Ahmadi where all the Oil companies started its operations. To do these activities, manpower requirements came about and due to this lot of vacancies were created. To fill these vacancies of different categories, many young Goans were recruited from Goa and Bombay. This was in early fifties whence Goans started pouring in Kuwait, those coming directly from Goa came to Kuwait with Portuguese Passports while those coming from Bombay came to Kuwait with Bharati Passports. When both categories of Goans landed in Kuwait, some created disputes amongst them. Many of the Goans holding Bharati Passports called Portuguese Passport holder Goans as “Chamchas” of Portugal while those Goans holding Portuguese Passports dubbed Bharati Passport holder Goans as “Ghantti” Goans. Antonio Mario Fernandes from Candolim an employee of KOC as Auto Electrician, was like a leader of Portuguese Passport holder Goans. He was very daring, very knowledgeable, very well read and highly literate. He was pro-Portuguese and Pro-Goa for Goans. He once gathered some like minded Goans and hoisted the Portuguese Flag in KOC Compound at Ahmadi in front of their residential area on the National Day of Portugal which coincides with the birthday of the great Portuguese Poet Luis de Camoes and rendered Portuguese National Anthem “Herois do Mar”. This was somewhere in 1958. This news finally became an instant hit not only in Kuwait but also in India, Goa and Portugal. When Salazar got this news in Portugal thru British Foreign Office, he sent special message to Portuguese Governador of Goa to contact Antonio’s people at his Candolim Pintos Vaddo home. When Portuguese Pakles with their top military escorts came to their place in Candolim with the message of Salazar, that day the whole village vibrated but only the Bamons and Bhattkars became jealous because Antonio known in Candolim as Lapitt Anton was a commoner.

The number of Goans coming to Kuwait swelled in early sixties. Many amongst these Goans were highly talented footballers. Two names immediately come to my mind are those of Alexinho from Calangute Khobravaddo and Stanley from Siolim, near the girls Convent. Stanley as a student of Guirim School where he excelled in football joined Goa’s Bemfica and even played for Goa XI during Portuguese time. While Alexinho was much more admired in Goa and Bombay as well for Young Goans. Both these players played in Ahmadi for and against Europeans. Alexinho is the father of ex Dempo’s goalkeeper Domnick. Both Alexinho and Stanley died in Goa a few years back. Alexinho because of his high level soccer skill even had an offer to go to England to play there, this offer was given to him by his British boss but because of his certain deficiencies he refused to accept this beautiful offer. Otherwise, he would be the first Goan and first Indian to play in England and not Baichung Bhutia. Stanley had strong power in his legs. Once, at Ahmadi ground after scoring a beautiful goal against Hubara Club comprising Europeans, with a powerful shot, some Britishers after the game came to him, lowered his socks and with admiration started caressing and checking his leg thru which he socred that memorable goal. After Britishers, Goans were number one foot-ballers in Kuwait during those days in late fifties and sixties and in fact they were acknowledged as such, as well, by all.

The next wave of Goans entering in Kuwait was in mid seventies after the Oil Boom following the Arab – Israeli War in early seventies leading to the increase in Oil Price worldwide. Because of this, money power of Gulf countries increased tremendously making these countries go for development of their infrastructure and increase in commercial activities. Majority of these Goans who came to Kuwait during this time were young like me and skilful in many activities mainly in soccer. Overwhelming majority of them concentrated in and around Kuwait city only. For recreation many of them started playing soccer behind the Church area. Suddenly and very appropriately it dawned on somebody amongst them to form a foot-ball club and start a competitive tournament for Goans. Diogo Gomes from Bastora, Custodio from Navelim, Moses from Candolim (Young Menezes’ Son), F. X. D’Souza from Assagao, Alcantra Barreto ex Salgaocars, one Mr. Benny a Bombay Goan and many others were regularly congregating on Fridays to play friendly soccer behind the Church area and to be there. While playing they were also discussing the initiating of a tournament. In this talk they were also ably supported by Tony Gonsalves from Divar, Joe Fernandes from Colva and many others. In the beginning it was like a dream but gradually it turned out to be a reality. I realized that it will turn out to be a reality because of the association in this group of one smart Goan young boy of that time, Mr. F. X. Joe D’Souza from Assagao who had exceptionally high calibre in organizing sports activities in his village back home before coming to Kuwait. None in that group were as talented in organising sporting events as he was. He was my colleague at St. Xaviers College, Mapusa, he studied up to MSc when his other colleagues were not even shade of his educational background, some of them not even knew what MSc is, that was the quality of many of the Goans in Kuwait at that time. He used to organize in his village Assagao high caliber sports activities with the participation of top Goan sportsmen, he had very good knowledge of sports administration, he himself was a very good sportsman during his youth, he played with me for St. Xaviers College soccer team, he was a fine athlete at All Goa level and a champion Pole Vaulter. He was a decent boy with high discipline and high moral character while many of his colleagues lacked many of his attributes. They were intellectually bankrupt.

In order to highlight their efforts and to promote our football, I interviewed their the then president Tony Fernandes in the presence of some of their club members and published it in Goan Weekly "Goycho Mog". It became an instant hit, even those semi-educated in English who were feeling shy to read Konkani also read it with much interest and thru this writing of mine the publicity and popularity of our tournament reached to the zenith.

Alcantra Barreto was a great Goan footballer, representing GOA XI from 1964 and a regular member of Goa XI for Santosh Trophy, a year before his coming to Kuwait he even captained GOA XI in the Santosh Trophy. Custodio from Navelim was during his youth was a very good player, Tony Gonsalves was a good player during his youth while Diogo Gomes was a great lover of soccer, so too Moses Menezes, Joe Fernandes, and others. But one thing was certain in all of them that they were mad lovers of soccer, they ate soccer, they drank soccer, they talked soccer, they sang soccer and they inhaled soccer. Only because of this quality they managed to initiate our first ever competitive soccer tournament in Kuwait in 1979 not only for Goans but for all Indians residing in Kuwait, under United Goans Centre, the Club they formed a year prior to the inaugural tournament in 1979 summer, the year I got married in Kuwait on 20th September with my long time prettiest girlfriend Fatima from Calangute. The inaugural tournament (and all subsequents) was League-cum- knock-out tournament which finally won by Goan Sporting, not only for that year but even the next year successively. Unfortunately, both the finals were played at Ahmadi because both the Tonys lacked marbles to defy their fake opponents in holding the finals at Sour Grounds. Both the Tonys and their equally guilty colleagues in UG had marbles only to unnecessarily suspend G.O.A. Maroons and create discord amongst Goans. Their motto was to demolish powerful G.O.A. Maroons from Sour Grounds but it did not happen. The cunning trick of one of the Tony’s in this direction failed to work though the plan was nicely devised. It is said in Konkani “Bamnani Kaddlolo Voi Pun Vaddlolo Nhoi”.

G.O.A. Maroons since its inception in 1980 is a powerhouse while UG under Tony Gonsalves started tottering when most of its former associates deserted him and his UG. And with the leadership of a Bebdo who was involved in robbing KIFF funds, nothing good will come. This bloody Bebdo after the liberation of Kuwait at Sour Grounds one day was threathening me with dire consequences for my organising a movement in Goa under "Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Center" during the invasion of Kuwait in support of the liberation of Kuwait. Infact not only he, even not a single colleague of his in Sour soccer Administration supported us openly in our movement in Goa during the invasion time of Kuwait. They were acting like enemies of Kuwait. These rascals want Kuwait only to earn Dinars but not to support Kuwait during its critical time. They are enemies of Kuwait. Not supporting is one thing but opposing me for supporting Kuwait is the worst crime. If it is not for Kuwait they would rot in Goa. Who cares for such idiots in Goa? What is their calibre in Goa? What is their knowledge of soccer to be somebody in Goan soccer in Goa? It looks all the rats will desert the sinking ship and only the Bebdo will remain with his Battli to destroy what we built thru our hard work in the past in which my efforts must take precedence over those of many others. Incidentally, none in the present set- up of the organisers of our Soccer at Sour Grounds was existing then, though some of them were existing in Kuwait but hiding under the petticoats of their wives, mothers, girlfriends or concubines or dipped into the "Battli". Some of those who are boasting of their presence then in Kuwait were in no way party to our efforts in the promotion of our soccer at Sour Grounds. They were not existing for us then because they were living in Kuwait as non-entities, unknown, unheard and unseen in public life.

To be concluded.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

Re: Goan Football

From: AAssoc4994@aol.com
To: goancauses@yahoogroups.com
CC: averonicaf806@hotmail.com

Veronica:

My memory tells me, fllodlight game was also played in Margao and Independente has seven pacles from Tropa Rawanfond, Margao. I used to catch hand of paclo to make my way in without bilhete.

Clube Independente de Margao was financed by Goan Hindu shop keepers. Then, I was a young boy, we'were all young then, I grew up in Magao. In konkani, we used to say "Independi club" located behind Cine Lata Margao. All shops shutters went down at 3PM, when "Independi club" played in Margao.

Vimson(Salgaoncar), Velha de Goa, Ferroviarios( Benjamin goalie), Academica, Independente, Policia de Goa, Santa Ines, were great clubs, great standards. All credit goes to Goa Portuguesa.

Go to goancauses.com paste this http://www.goancauses.com/gallery/2.html you will see pictures of following players of Independente courtesy of Menino Figueredo de Carmona, not Cuncolim:

Fenelon D' Souza, Jackson, Francis, Rock Cruz, Menino Figueredo, Vetto, Amrut Verenkar, Mendes, Basto, Alisab Sadekar, Ravi, etc.

I've no idea where all these players are gone. I know poor Vasu Raiturcar passed away.

Menino Figueredo is still living, once he was very sick, in that sickness he lost his hearing, last I saw Menino in 2003 in Carmona at Jules Alberto wedding, I made efforts to see Menino in person, because Menino could not make for Jules wedding.

You're a great asset for Goan Portuguesa football.

Thanks.

Mog Assom

Agnelo Gomes
USA

CONGRESS' CHICKANERY & MUMMY'S FAST.

CONGRESS’ CHICKANERY & MUMMY’S FAST.

Soon after the exit of Portuguese Government in Goa, without election, two prominent Goans were nominated in the Indian Parliament to represent Goa, one Christian and one Dr. Gaitonde, if I am not mistaken. If any of the readers of this article knows their correct names, I would be pleased to learn. The nomination of the Christian nominee was objected by one Christian Goan freedom fighter Rock Santan from Cuncolim. As a mark of his protest, Rock Santan went onto fast. Central leaders came to know of this and Prime Minister of India, a Congressman, immediately called Rock Santan to Delhi to discuss this issue. Rock Santan stopped his fast and went to Delhi and met Nehru. According to information received that time, Nehru sarcastically asked Rock Santan thus “It would be o.k. if you have organized a fast against Portuguese rule but it is surprising you went onto fast against your own Goan brother. Where you want him to go?”. Rock Santan had no answer.

Now, according to the latest press reports, Mummy Victoria Fernandes who had organized her fast unto death for denying her a ministerial berth in Digambar Kamat’s ministry which she finally withdrew after two days, is called to Delhi by the Central leadership. History repeats itself and it is repeating. Earlier it was Nehru and now it must be Sonia the grand daughter-in-law of Nehru, both Congress persons. Nehru an “asli” Bharati while Sonia is only a “nakli” Indian whose love for Bharat is only superficial. Even after so many years of her wedded life with Bharati Rajiv Gandhi she refused to surrender her Italian citizenship in favour of Indian. She has no love for Indian women and their emancipation. Her talk of empowerment of Indian women is just a lose talk of a domestic woman. Her mother-in-law Indira Gandhi treated her for so many years as a domestic woman only to look after her household affairs.

If Sonia Gandhi was true to her own words then she would have made Digambar Kamat to include Mummy into Goa’s Cabinet. Sonia is least bothered about Goa. What much politically she can gain from Goa? Only for Goans our dearest Goa is big and also Goa’s interest. At All India level, Goa’s share of 2 MP’s in India’s Parliament is like a pubic hair without much importance. Even if Goa goes out of Congress control, Sonia will never care. Especially Sonia will not care for any of the Goan politicians. On the contrary, Remo Fernandes will have more pull in front of Sonia Gandhi but not the Goan Congressmen who are all chors and Bamttes and that they are so Sonia knows very well. See now how they are demanding portfolios of their choice and Digambar is succumbing to their greed. They demand like a thief demanding a key of the treasury from the owner. Once the thief gets a key of the treasury in his hands then you know what it is going to happen. Unfortunately, Goan populace in general are keeping their silence over all these “Chors” who are come on to the fore to rob Goa, to rob Goans and to destroy Goa. Where are all the Goa lovers, Goan social workers and conscientious Goans gone now to accept robbers as Goa’s Montris? Mummy has done what it is required in Goa but others with strong love for Goa must go to Delhi and organize their fast in front of Congress Headquarters so that Goa’s woes are highlighted more openly and more widely. If any financial help is required, call and appeal worldwide Goans, they are interested in safeguarding the interest of Goa, if genuine persons, genuine Goa lovers come forward. Money should not be a hindrance.

Every time approaching High Command in Delhi is like a joke. It was o.k., during colonial time because Goa then was under the Portuguese rule and Lisboa’s approval was needed for so many things. But now the way Congress Party and its leaders run for High Command in Delhi, it looks even when going to the Toilet, Digambar and his Congressmen will have to approach High Command. It looks one Portuguese gone and another Portuguese came in Goa. One High Command of Lisboa gone and it is replaced by another High Command of Delhi. There is nothing difference between Portuguese High Command and Delhi High Command. Both are same, both are colonizers of Goa, one open while the other in a disguise form. If Parrikar was good and non-communal things would not have been as bad in Goa as it is now. It is certain now that Digambar’s Ministry will not last. It is jittery and it is tottering. Digambar Kamat is not a man wielding allegiance of all, he is only a sectarian leader. Margao is not whole of Goa. He has betrayed Mummy with a Judas Kiss and instead elevated a new comer and a “Kalcho Porcho Potto” Biswajeet Rane in the Cabinet. People in Goa must revolt against all this mischief Congress is playing in Goa. That “Contrel” Margareth Alva will not only destroy Congress in Goa but also she will destroy Goa itself. I have already informed separately Sonia Gandhi and High Command of her nuisance in Goa and I have also informed High Command of my disapproval of what Congress has done for Mummy. While working in Kuwait we are not sleeping, we are as conscious of Goan affairs as our Goa conscious brothers and sisters in Goa.

Mummy has done lot of good for the cause of Goa. She stood by Goa during Opinion Poll, she fought for its victory. She stood by us during Language agitation. She fought for Goa’s Statehood. She fought against Monsurate’s TCP Ordinance 18 months back when I too participated in her campaign in the Morchas, Dharnas, Public Meetings and even addressing them at some places in Goa. She has love for Goa and Goans. She made Goa swallower Babush Monsurate and his wife Jennifer pigmies in the last election. She is aged and much matured person deserving highest consideration. Wouldn’t it be better if she had to withdraw her support to Congress Party or legality prevents her from doing this? It is not me alone who support her but innumerable Kuwait Goans are in solidarity with her. Let Mummy Victoria be victorious in her fight.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.