IN KUWAIT, DON BOSCO WINS SOCCER FINAL.

DON BOSCO LIFTS COVETED CRC TROPHY.

SEEN ABOVE RIGHT SIDE, FIDELIS FERNANDES

WINNERS DON BOSCO

 

Kuwait: Don Bosco Oratory emerged champions of the 20th Edition CRC Chinchinim 9-aside Football Tournament beating Skynet Raiders in the tie-breaker in the finals played at MoH grounds, Shuwaikh.

The tie-breaker was enforced after the teams failed to break the deadlock in a pulsating final. Don Bosco turned out better shooters from the spot. Godfrey Aguair and Roney excelled for Don Bosco, while Skynet goalkeeper Melvin showed immense reflexes throughout the tournament.

Earlier, in the semifinals, Don Bosco defeated Indian Strikers while Skynet Raiders overcame inform AVC to reach the finals.

A number of dignitaries and presidents of participating clubs attended the finals. Glittering prizes and trophies were awarded to the winners and runners-up.

Samson of Skynet was awarded Man of the Match while Godfrey Aguiar was adjudged best defender of the tournament.

CRC Chinchinim President Mr. Bosco Leitao spoke on the occasion and also proposed a Vote of Thanks. Vice President of the CRC Chinchinim Mr. Venancio Pereira, Anthony H. Viegas – Sports-Incharge, Gen. Secretary Mr. Olvin Leitao, Lester Fernandes – Team coordinators, Anthony Fernandes – Team Manager, and other members of the club were also present on the occasion.

Mr. Aleixo Minguel Fernandes, CRC Chinchinim’s longest serving player and member was felicitated on the occasion at the hands of Mr. Olvin Leitao.

The prestigious and popular CRC established 'Athlete of the Year' award instituted since 1994 was presented to Mr. Fidelis Fernandes, President of Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF), for yeomen services rendered in the promotion of football among Indian expatriates.

The award was presented at the hands of CRC Chinchinim President Mr. Bosco Leitao.

Fidelis Fernandes awarded Athlete of the Year

Fidelis Fernandes hails from Colva, Salcette, Goa and has been President of KIFF for 4 consecutive years. He is associated with KIFF for several years in various positions and has been elected in the past to executive committees of New Goan Overseas Association (1987), Goan Welfare Society (GWS) (1989), Colva United Centre-Kuwait (2005), Kuwait Goan Association (KGA), among others.

Though he is not a sportsman himself, during his younger days till now, Fidelis has been prominent as a well known sports administrator. Throughout his career in Goa, in his village, he was known to organise sports events at every level -- and mainly in his village school, Infant Jesus High School.

He was elected general secretary of Sporting Club of Colva, back home in Goa, in the year 1973.

Inheriting his father’s aptitude for sports, in Kuwait, Fidelis embarked in the promotion of Football among expatriates. His major step in this direction was the formation of one sports body called New Goan Overseas Association (NGOA) to promote football. In 1990, under his Presidency, NGOA football team created a unique record by being the first Kuwait Goan team to play exhibition matches in Bahrain.

Fidelis came into more limelight as an able sports administrator after the invasion and liberation of Kuwait when he joined Goan Overseas Association as its Sports Secretary. He helped Goa Maroons to develop vastly and win laurels in Kuwait and elsewhere in the Gulf. He organised an athletic event in 2002 at Sour grounds for Indian students studying in different Indian schools in Kuwait. In 1995 he joined KIFF and in 2003 under his initiative, KIFF invited All India Football Federation secretary Mr. Alberto Colaco to visit Kuwait to witness KIFF finals.

In 2009, Fidelis was elected as president of KIFF and he is still occupying the hot KIFF president's post with very great efficiency uniting not only Goans but also other Indians under one banner.

Apparently, Fidelis is also the President of the Konkani Heritage Kuwait (KHK) which has, in the past, presented Konkani tiatrs, one-act play competitions, singing competitions, and Konkani ‘songit sanz’ (musical) shows in Kuwait under his able direction.

 

Following is the list of 'Athlete of the Year' award winners.

1. Alcantra Barretto (Navelim Youth Centre) -1995

2. Francis Machado (CRC Chinchinim) - 1996

3. V.K.Vohra (ex-President of KIFF) - 1997

4. Inacio Faleiro (ex-President of KIFF) - 1998

5. Tony Coutinho (GOA Maroons) - 1999

6. Judas Fernandes (CRC Chinchinim) - 2000

7. Cajetan Godinho (Veterans XI) - 2001

8. Joseph Salema (United Goans Centre) - 2002

9. Sarto Baptista (United Friends Club) - 2003

10. Gasper Crasto (Navelim Youth Centre) - 2004

11. Gajendra Pillay (GOA Maroons) - 2005

12. Tony Dias (ex-President KIFF & Santos FC) - 2006

13. Julio Cardoso (GOA Maroons) - 2007

14. Tony Gonsalves (United Goans) - 2008

15. Avelino Dias (Navelim Youth Centre) - 2009

16. Anthony Rebello (Curtorcares United) - 2010

17. Americo Fernandes (Navelim Youth Centre) – 2011

18. Fidelis Fernandes – 2012-13

About CRC Chinchinim Cultural and Recreational club of Chinchinim as the name indicates is an organization for Chinchonkars based in Kuwait.

Founded in 1992, by only a handful of Chinchonkars, CRCC Kuwait started initially as a Football club. At the same time they also founded the CRC football tournament also known as the BBK trophy because of the financial backing by the Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait.

The club also organizes annual picnics for its members and their families in addition to other get-togethers held during the year.

Remarkably, CRCC Kuwait has only had two presidents since its birth. Anselmo Furtado and Bosco Leitao. They, along with the backing of other committed members, have helped make the CRCC name one of class and prestige.

From the very beginning CRCC had established a scholarship fund for the bright and upcoming students of the Chinchinim village. This scholarship was awarded to Chinchinim student toppers in all the various schools in the village back home.

In addition to helping the village, the club has also aided other organizations when in need. This has not been limited to Goan organizations or needs only. The club also looks after its members in Kuwait and uses its collective influence to assist everyone.

CONGRATULATIONS TO G.R. CRASTO (BAHRAIN) ON HIS SILVER WEDDING ANNIVERSARY.

Navelim born and Bahrain based Mr. G.R. Crasto (Gabriel Crasto), a prominent Goan in the Middle-East will be celebrating his Silver Anniversary of his Marriage to wife Catherine on 18th April 2013 at the Sacred Heart Church, Bahrain.

  

Mr. Gabriel has been one of the prominent members of Young Goans Club in Bahrain for the last many years and has been elected for different posts at the club.

Mr. Gabriel writes fluently both in English and in Roman script Konkani. He has been writing right from his school days. Apart from writing exclusively for Gulab and Goan Review Magazines, Gabriel has written a series of articles for different publications. His works have appeared in Uzvadd - Weekly Magazine,  Goencho Mog, Novem Goem and the English Daily West Coast Times.

He has regularly written poems, short stories, one-act plays and dramas.  His one-act play 'Kalina' won the Konkani Bhasha Mandal Award, while his drama 'Harijan' was well-recognized for it's subject. 

Mr. Gabriel Crasto also received the Man of the Year 2006 Award from the Goan Review Art Foundation, and is also a recipient of Goan NRI Leadership Award from the Government of Goa.

In Bahrain, Mr. Gabriel won many prizes for his plays at one-act play competitions organized by Young Goans Club, Riffa Goans, etc.

Mr. Gabriel has been living in Bahrain since the last 30 years and is currently working for Bahrain’s famous Jalal Travel Agency as a Manager. He is an active member of both Young Goans Club and Konkan Singers and served in different capacities in their managing committees.

Some years back, Mr. Gabriel headed a football team called United Goans which ran for over 5 years in Bahrain. Along with his friend Mr. Francis Correia, Mr. Gabriel formed the Goan Dramatic Troupe. Under this group they organized many dramas and Musical shows.

Mr. Gabriel is currently Bahrain Goans Football League Chairman.

In recent years he contributes most of his thoughts through ‘Bahrain-Goans Xit-Koddi’, a web-portal published every month. 

Coming back to the Silver Jubilee, Bab Crasto you are residing in Bahrain and I am in Kuwait and still you remembered me to send your invitation card to attend your great occasion. I regret my inability to attend because of the geographical barrier but I pray to God to bless you both husband and wife.

You and me we both are two separate identities but having the same ideology towards Goa and Goans. I am proud of the activities you have been doing for the cause of Goa and Goans. Please continue in doing what you are doing. I am sure your beloved wife must have been assisting you in the same. I hope she too will continue in assisting you towards your activities for the greater cause of Goa and Goans. I am also sure your both the children are imbibing you and gradually they will take over from you when everyone will say "Like Father - Like Children".

To live together as husband and wife for Twenty Five long years so successfully is not a joke especially now when the temptations are so many. Many couples separate from each other just within  25 hours of their marriage but you have lived together for 25 long years, it is very much admirable. You both husband and wife are blessed couple to live like this and I hope and pray to God to keep you together as you are now to celebrate not only Golden Jubilee but Platinum Jubilee also.

As a Silverian myself, I know how difficult it is to remain embedded to each other but with real love and faithfulness to each other one can easily overcome all the obstacles that comes on one’s path.

Though you both completed 25 long years together yet looking from the recent photo above, both together in a jovial mood, it looks to me that you are just a newly married couple wedded just 25 days before and not 25 years before. Your youthfulness is an added freshness to your success. Keep maintaining the same youthfulness even though age may try to meddle in between. For genuine love age should not be a hindrance.

Finally I wish you Gabriel and your wife Catherine all the best.

A happy 25th Wedding Anniversary. May God Bless You Both.

A. Veronica Fernandes.

Kuwait. 

ONE MORE RESPONSE TO GWS ARTICLE OF VERONICA.

The article on GWS Kuwait Fund on 10.04.13 written by the Kuwait based writer and activist Mr. A. Veronica Fernandes was the best among all the best he wrote recently in Goa-Kranti. Kuwait Goans are fortunate to have among them such a solid personality who does lot of awakening in support of justice. There is not a single writer in Kuwait among Goans capable of doing such just writings as Mr. Veronica does.

Veronica is the most upright Goan among all the known Kuwait Goans and because he is such he can write bold articles as on GWS Fund. Mr. Veronica even after being in Kuwait for such a long period and doing so many activities has never got a black spot on his white shirt. He has not duped anyone, he was not involved in any fund scandal, he did not misapropriate any fund, he was not involved in womanizing and in concubinage, he was not involved in rowdism, he is not a drunkard. His path is straight. For these reasons he acquired success in all his campaigns and activities. Among all the popular and prominent Kuwait Goans he is the only person so far remained above suspicion. Anyone is free to correct me with genuine justification, if I am wrong

About GWS Fund, according to me this fund was collected to spend for the benefit of Kuwait Goans and not to keep idle for such a long period. Kuwait Goans must raise their voices against this. The Dolls and others in GWS should not be allowed to take the community for a ride.

There is not a single person in GWS to fight for justice, all are chamchas and yes men otherwise they would act adroitly. None of the members is capable to create impact in society. Beyond GWS they are nothing. They got GWS on silver platter.

Carmo Santos was the president of this GWS for some years but why he did not raise the issue of founder members who were kept out of GWS? Carmo Santos needs to answer this question. Like all others he too is at fault of being silent on this topic when power was in his hands.

It is true that some important members of GWS are holding Portuguese Passports. It is against Indian system and India law. If anyone supplies me their names I will directly bring it out to the notice of Indian Embassy with cc to CBI-Delhi. GWS Kuwait is an Indian organization registered with Indian Embassy and how can foreign national involve in it? This dual passport issue is a very serious issue and it has to be handled very seriously.

Thanks.

A.  FERNANDES.