LIBERATION WAR OF KUWAIT.

LIBERATION WAR OF KUWAIT.

Exactly today 17th of this month in 1991, 17 years back, Americans along with French and British troops started the war for the liberation of Kuwait against Iraqi regime headed by that monster Saddam Hussein. While this US led war was going on for the liberation of Kuwait, we in Goa were deeply engrossed in our thoughts knowing not what would be our fate. We were no doubt under Hamletic influence knowing not what decision to take yet we were praying hard for the liberation of Kuwait. While we were praying hard for the liberation of Kuwait from where we earn our sustenance, we were also campaigning hard under GOA KUWAIT SOLIDARITY CENTER to put pressure on the Government of India to openly align with Kuwait and openly support the liberation war of Kuwait. In this direction we organized big rallies on the streets of Panjim, held big public meetings in Panjim at Azad Maidan and highlighted the cause of Kuwait. Our voice with its echo was heard not only in Goa and Delhi but also all around the globe thru the media especially thru Radio and CNN broadcasting. By our movement we showed to Kuwaitis and its leadership stationed at Taif in Saudi Arabia that we Indians from Goa are bodily and soully with them. The leadership of Kuwait thru its Ambassador in Delhi showed total appreciation of what we did for Kuwait, its cause and Kuwaitis. The result of our movement was the love, affection and strong bond shown to us by Kuwait and Kuwaitis.

Though there was lot of goodwill generated for our plight in Goa yet the very people who needed Kuwait, who used Kuwait for their benefits and also used our status in Kuwait for their promotion had never sided with us openly, though some of them claimed to be our silent supporters. For example, most of the activists, supporters and promoters of Konkani inspite of being recipients of our donations in lakhs of rupees from Kuwait never supported us nor our movement publicly and openly. To cite an example. Fr. Freddy J. D’Costa who after enjoying so much of doles from us never openly supported us, on the contrary criticized me saying “Veronica kitem Kuwait liberate korunk aila re?”. “Beiman to, taka Veronican adhar kela te porim bhou thoddeani kela”. If his Gulab is on strong footing today it was partly because of the assistance Veronica gave to lay a solid base for it.

Gurunath Kelekar, the late Dr. Rebello and other stalwarts of Novem Goem Newspaper and Novem Goem Pratishthan never associated with us nor gave a consolimg word for us by joining in our meetings and rallies inspite of receiving donations in lakhs of rupees for Novem Goem Newspaper whose initiator was Gurunath Kelekar himself. They never thought that Kuwait will be liberated. They thought Kuwaitkar “melet mhonn”. They were heavy beneficiaries of our donations, doles and charity. Gurunath Kelekar had major responsibility to support us when he enjoyed so much of support from Kuwaitkars in general and me in particular when he was a non entity amongst Kuwait Goans. But he too was a Beiman. He wanted me to save him from getting ousted from Novem Goem and to raise funds for Novem Goem. But during our critical time he never even wished me. This is the quality of some of our Freedom Fighters and stalwarts in Konkani movement. The late Dr. Rebello from Maddel Margao was equally guilty like Kelekar and others in their bracket.

There was nobody to support us from Goa Cancer Hospital – Dona Paula when they received around 20 lakhs of rupees from Kuwait Goans as donation for the construction of Goa Cancer Hospital. Where is this hospital gone now and who owns it? Where is our donation gone? None of the priests and nuns who received so much from us for their schools and convents, churches and chapels associated with us. Many Padris ani Madris were the biggest “Beiman” and “Devchar” though they fool the faithfuls by wearing the robes of Christ thereby disgracing the immaculate image of Jesus Christ. That was the first time in my life I came to know that how ungrateful the priests and nuns can be. Likewise there are innumerable examples of our Goans who became “Beiman” on us inspite of enjoying benefits from us. Posterity must judge these people and deal with them accordingly because their attitude is “Kam Zalem Voiz Melo”.

The other biggest “Beiman” and Traitors are the Tiatrists especially those who mocked and criticized us from the stage for getting uprooted from Kuwait. Though few defamed and mocked at us from the stage at a wrong time when we were not in position to bear their insults but regretfully none amongst the Tiatrists had marbles in their “kalsanvam” to openly oppose our critics in Tiatro fraternity. The top beneficiaries of Kuwait and its liberation are the Tiatrists. Some of them by regularly coming to Kuwait during the last so many years especially after the liberation of Kuwait made so much of money, some thru proper means and while others thru chicanery, robberies, cheatings and thru other foul means. Among the short duration visitors in Kuwait, some of the finest “bamttes” are from this category. They want Kuwait and Kuwait Goans only to make money and for their benefits. In my life, I never came across as “beiman” as some of the beiman Tiatrists. During the time of invasion of Kuwait they were not babies sucking the breasts of their mothers. They were grown up and clever enough to know what is good and what is bad. In view of this they should have supported us but they failed because they are enemies of Kuwait. Yet they want to come to Kuwait because the taste for petro dollar is better than that of Indian Rupees.

I met during those days one Tiatrist who said “atam nhidat ghara” and continued on saying that “you deserve this punishment”. Further he said “who wants your Kuwait now? Nobody. But within seven months by the grace of God and with the support of Americnas and others Kuwait was liberated and one of the first persons to come to liberated Kuwait to work was the daughter of this same Tiatrist who said to me arrongantly “who want your Kuwait”. During those days I was desperately moving all around Goa to garner support for our movement. In order to make big public propaganda money power was thinned from my pocket. Hence, as a Convenor of Goa Kuwait Solidarity Center which was on forefront in India to create an awakening in India for the cause of Kuwait, I used to go to Tiatro Halls and Mattou to request the directors of the Tiatros and other artistes to allow me to make announcement of our meetings and rallies. But everywhere my request was rejected and at one particular place my request was rebuffed saying “tumchem Kuwait kobar mure, atam anink koslo propaganda korunk ailai?”. I am still waiting for this Tiatrist to come to Kuwait but he is not coming knowing very well what is in store for him.

However, the only Tiatrists who gave me all cooperation in making our announcements publicly were Jose Rod and Anil Kumar. Jose Rod whom I never knew till that date when introduced to me by Patrick de Verna who was acting in Jose Rod’s Tiatro at Mapusa on that day, willingly handed over the Mike to me and gave a green signal to go ahead the way I wanted. So too Anil Kumar in another Tiatro at Mapusa only while other artistes resented this help.

Why to raise the issue of Goa based Tiatrists only? Even most of our own Kuwait based Tiatrists who earned and still earning their sustenance by working in Kuwait have never bothered to support our movement for the cause of Kuwait. If at all these Kuwait based Tiatrists got any prominence in life it is only because of their being in Kuwait. Otherwise who cares them in Goa? Besides, with the exception of 2 or 3, none are real Tiatrists who can swim in the big ocean. If Kuwait based Tiatrists are that powerful then why they take shadow of the troupes regularly coming to Kuwait and successfully performing their shows? Some of our Kuwait based Tiatrists in order to gain limelight need the umbrella of visiting Goan troupes and visiting Tiatrists otherwise they are minus zeroes. And they will remain as such because they are “Beiman” on the very country that gives them their livelihood.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

GOEANCHEA RAJKARNACHI ANIK EK CIRCUS - by Fr. Teo Fernandes

(The prestigious Goa State Legislative Assembly Complex at Porvorim)

GOEANCHEA RAJKARNACHI ANIK EK CIRCUS
-By Fr. Teo Fernandes, OCD (Kuwait)

Email: teofeds69@yahoo.co.uk

Mhaka kednakai sutti gheun Goyant vochunxem zalam kiteak ki mhonllear Goyant ek boreantli bori ‘circus’ ailea khoim anik he circus-iche kollakar zaun asat khoim Goyeanche amdar-montri.

Potrancher hanven vachlea pormonea hi ek boreantli bori circus khoim anik hi circus polleunk Goyant aslelea Goyankaranchem bhag pun Kuwait anik her Gulf dhesant asleanchem dhurbhagea kiteak amkam hi Circus polleunk mellona.

Xi baba! Goyam itlem daktem xhar zaun kitlea pautti mhonn hi circus cholta zait? Goyant tore-torencheo circus-eo choltat zoxeo Mopa vimantoll, lipivadichi circus, SEZ – achi circus anik atam Provorim Secretariatant ailea ti serkar uddoupachi circus.

Heo Goyancheo circus-eo polleun mhaka zalear sarikich vitt ailea. Kitem mhonn polletolom? Goy itlem dhaktem xhar zaun kitlea pautti mhonn hi circus ami polletelanv. Amchech amdar montri amkanch ghat kortat. Hi osli Goyant circus choltana mhaka oxem bhogta, ki ami ghatlelea povitr motak kosloch orth nam mhonn. He amche vinchun kaddlele makodd (monkeys) he pokxeant thaun dusrea pokxeant uddio martat aink amich vichun kaddlele amdar montri amkanch fosoitat.

He je amdar-montri he ami vinchun kaddleat te chor anik nagounne. Porjechea borea passot vavurpache nhoi pun fokot chorun, nagoun aplim bolsam bhorpache. Eklo Mopa, Mopa bob marun PWD chorpachem khatem gheun bhosla anik atam don thonddacho malund zala. Adlo serkar astana eklean SEZ suru kelem anik atam toch chor, Pilat aple hat dhuta anik mhonta hanv kiteant nam. Tisro mhataro sat sort fondant bhitor sopnam sopneta Goyncho mukhel montri zaunk. Chovto gundda, gundddagiri korta. Panchvo adlo town planning-acho montri atam circus-icho ‘ring master’ zala. Sattariche makodd makda bhaxen udio marta.

Kosli mhonn circus tum Goyant polletolo. Kitem re Goyenkara tum polletai?

Dusre vatten ho lekh boroitana mhojea monant ek oso vichar ieta anik ho vichar zaun asa oso: Hea Goynchea montreank Devachi bhirant mhonloli asa kai? Konsens (Conscience) mhonlolem asam kai? Ze apun kristanv amdar-montri mhontat te misak, kumsarak vetat kai? Mhaka disona he amdar -montri Devak bhietat, konsens aslele monis mhonnon. Kiteak mhonllear Devak bhietele, konsens aslele monis oslim natkam, circus-eo korchenant.

Gelea te pavsant Provorim dongor kosllun mati devun aileli tich mati amche amdar montri assemblint bhoska ghetana devun thoim aslele zalear ekdom borem zaupachem kiteak portun heo circus-eo polleunk mellpacheo nasleo punn kotta oxem hanv suskartam kiteak oxem zalem zalear Goyant hem cholta tem polleunk mellpachem naslem.

Goy mhojem chorun khalem hea chorani anik ghatkea Judasani. Hea chorani Goynche avoicher bholotkar kelo anik korit asat. Hea chorani, nagounneani Goyanche avoik sogllea rasthram mhukar vinglli (naked) korun soddlea. Sogllo sonvsaracho lok heo choltat teo Goyncheo circuseo polleun hanstat. Kedi vhoddhli hi loz Goynche porjek!.

Goynchi zomin hea chorani, nagouneani Goynchea sudaropachea navan foreingn-erank toxech ghanttiank vinkli. Apleak motam ghalpak hea Goynchea bhailea ghantiank haddun Goyant bhorleat anik tankam ‘ration card’-am korun dileant anik ami Goynkar khoichea khocherent voch amchim kama zainant. Tor sangat Goyankarano tumi osleam chorank, nagounneak kitem kortat?

Hea xikop naslelea toxench ‘character’ nasleleank ami vichun kaddleat anik hech ami vinchun kaddlele amdar-montri amchea pottant ghaltat suri. Sons, sons mhonn kitlem sonstolo? Amchem paxieans kobar zalem. Goynkarano uttat, zage zaeiat, susegad niddon ravonakat. He cholta te circus-icher nixed marat. Hea ghatkean Judas-ank lisanv xikoieiat. Mitachea-faran tanchi fatt foddat. Ami atam tori zage zaum-eia, chotur anik xidduk ravum-eia.

Ami atam tori zage zainat zalear ho soglo sonvsarcho lok amkam hanstolo anim amkam mhonttolo he Goykar rajkoronn mhollar oxiksit(illiterate) mhonn. Tor Goyankarano heo circus-o bondh korunk ami veginuch koslo nam koslo upai ghevum-eia.

DHL player cripples opponent: NYC Trophy, Kuwait

Kuwait Goans, AVC, Fahaheel Brothers in Semis

-By Gasper Crasto

Kuwait, Jan 15, 2008: An unforgivable, vicious foul by DHL's Elvis Camelo that crippled Kuwait Goan's young playmaker Christovam Colaco with a broken shin was one of the most horrific incidents seen in the 18 year history of the NYC Rolling Trophy football tournament played under the auspices of Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF).

In chilling temperatures as low as 6°C at Salmiya Grounds, Kuwait Goans Association (KGA) led 2-0 in the second half with goals from Andre Dias and Jimmy Goveia. With less than ten minutes left for the final whistle Christovam was moving diagonally with the ball just after the centre circle when DHL's stopper-back Elvis lunged at his legs with both feet. The studs beneath one of Elvis' boots crashed into the flesh of Christovam's shin grounding the player writhing in pain.

Kuwait Goans with officials after the match

Referee Sarto Baptista, one of the most consistent referees had little hesitation in giving marching orders to the DHL defender. "A two footed tackle, anyone will testify, is the most heinous foul in football," quoted Junnifer Rodrigues, member of the Indian referee's body in Kuwait since 1980. Another official said, "The two-footed tackle in football is always illegal but players get away with just a red card...That's the maximum penalty refs can give on the field..."

Christovam Colaco

Player in Hospital

KGA officials who reportedly lodged a complaint with KIFF against the brutal tackle said Christovam was operated at Al-Razi Hospital for a broken leg. "Christovam's football activity is ended in most probability and he is in danger of losing his job also. We are afraid he may never be able to play again. He is crippled with the shin bone broken into two. Doctors have advised him complete bed rest to recuperate once discharged from the hospital. It could be as many as 3 months before he can walk again. For the time, all arrangements are being made to fly the player back to his home in Goa for better care and treatment. Many clubs have shown concern and support towards the player..," disclosed KGA Team Manager Nazi Azavedo.

The official football rules called the 'Laws of the Game' are revised annually by FIFA, the world football governing body. These rules are adopted by KIFF and the Indian Football Referees Association (IFRA), although many football organizations worldwide have their own set of rules.

"...Perhaps the 'dastardly foul' will be discussed by the disciplinary committee of KIFF. Even then, an offence like this may get a maximum 3 match ban. That's not enough..." remarked an unnamed football administrator.

Public Reaction

There were mixed reactions from all circles about the credibility of some teams and players in the aftermath of the fatal injury.

Many spectators called the foul 'intentional', 'horrendous' and viewed concern over such tackles perpetrated by some 'frustrated' players in an expatriate 'working' world where games are played only as pastime.

"There are some players who disgrace their teams and bring the game to disrepute – especially when they are at the losing end," commented a spectator while another bystander added, "There was no need for such a dangerous tackle knowing they (DHL) were down by 2 goals...No, it was not accidental or 50-50...It was deliberate... Everybody saw that!.. Moreover, it is disgusting to note some of DHL's supporters and substitutes instigating their players from the sidelines to play rough."

"Someone needs to sit him down and educate him about the game he plays," said another observer about the DHL defender, "This player should be kicked out of the game by his club and the federation. It is necessary to improve the game's image... Primarily, it should be every club's responsibility to impress upon players not to commit fouls that get them sent off..."

Christovam was undoubtedly the best player on the field with meticulous dribbling and majestic, untiring runs with the ball. He fed his strikers over and over again with precision passes. Kuwait Goans took the lead through his hard work off striker Andre Dias and were never in real danger from then on. KGA goalkeeper Martin Dias, captain Vico D'Souza, Caridade and defender Teotonio too excelled in the match.

Leroy Rodrigues

Leroy hatricks for AVC

In the other quarter-final matche, striker Leroy Rodrigues scored a hatrick to coast AVC Overseas Association to an easy 3-0 victory over C.R.C. Chinchinim. AVC led 2-0 in the first half. The second half was more an ordeal of sorts though AVC held sway and probed persistently for another goal, but lacked that killer finish from their forwards even as Chinchinim looked to be running out of steam and chose to play second fiddle only to come up with occasional raids to release the pressure.

In yet another quarter-final round, Curtorcares United, champions in 2004~05 succumbed to a 4-1 defeat against spirited Fahaheel Brothers. Curtorcares, who scored 11 goals in their last two encounters appeared to have left their scoring boots at home against a middling Fahaheel defense. Strikers Lawrence Furtado and Zico Fernandes could not beat the Fahaheel defense not just because the defenders were outstanding but more so because they did not make that extra effort or showed urgency when it mattered. Muneer and Riyas were the pick of the players for Fahaheel Brothers. Nishad (2 goals), Suleiman and Liyakat Ali scored for Fahaheel. Alex Fernandes reduced the margin for Curtorcares.

In the semifinal line-up on Friday, January 18, 2008, Kuwait Goans will clash with Fahaheel Brothers while Don Bosco Oratory challenge AVC to stake claim for their first final appearance in Kuwait Indian football tournaments.

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