SAD DEATH OF A GOAN FOOT-BALLER JOSEPH P. FERNADES (JOE) IN KUWAIT.
That the death is certain is a hard fact and that it will surely come either today or tomorrow is also a very sure fact but that its exact arrival date is unknown is sure as well. It is our expectation that it should come at the old age when we reach the Seventh Stage of our life, that is when we play the Seventh Role of our play in our life's drama as described by William Shakesphere in his last comedy play "As You Like It" where Shakesphere says we reach the stage of "Sans Eyes - Sans Teeth - Sans Ears - Sans Limbs". What a tragedy it is to know that at the young age our friend and once colleague at Sour Ground Joseph P. Fernandes popularly known as Joe suddenly died on 6th of this month - just 4 days back.
I came in contact with him first time from close angle when we encountered each other at Sour Grounds during the inaugural tournament initiated by United Goans Football Center in 1979. He was playing for the then mighty outfit Starlite Goans and I was captaining Peter D'Souza's team Salmiya Youth. In the inaugural tournament both Starlite Goans and Salmiya Youth were giant killers having very experienced foot-ballers in their ranks. Both these teams were semi-finalists in that inception year. Starlite Goans was considered the team of "Fidalgos" and "Elites" as most of their players were the employees of different Banks in Kuwait. In certain quarters, this team was called the "Bankers Team" and as such it enjoyed a better social status amongst us then.
Amongst the players for Starlites, Joe was one of the exceptioanlly talented player and in many of my reviews in the local Newspapers I dubbed him as the best. He along with his brother dominated not only Starlites but also the Sour Grounds. Joe was always the dynamic and aggressive with his superb heading prowess, excellent ball control and long distance shots from any angle. He could use both his legs with the same ease. An untiring player like a Horse he would run all around the field changing his positions within split of a moment to fit anywhere. Though he was a an attacking midfielder yet he would dip himself at any moment inside the penalty area of the opponents and create terror in the citadel of opponents area. He was feared by the opposing teams' defenders. Though robust on the ground yet decent and clean.
He was one of the Goan players during those days to popularise our soccer in Kuwait in general and at Sour Grounds in particular. He was one of the players responsible to bring our soccer where it is today. He had majestic appearance on the field and while playing always looked elegant. If he was not in Kuwait during that time, he would surely get automatic chance to represent any of the top Goan teams in Goa. It is a pity that such Goan players are rarity amongst us now-a-days in Kuwait. He always patted me for playing my role on and off the field very well for the promotion of our soccer and especially he patted me for making our soccer more popular thru my writings in the local Newspapers, namely Arab Times and Kuwait Times and in Goan Papers and Goan Magazines, English and Konkani.
In his death Kuwait Goan Soccer lost a great foot-baller. May his soul rest in peace and may Heavenly God give courage to his family to bear this colossal loss.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
