GOA LOST AND SOCCER WON.

It was a wonderful  football match yesterday between Goa and Kolkatta and the proceedings of same displayed there were vast improvement in Indian soccer, thanks to the induction of some non-Indian oldies who are past of their prime though still going strong.  Their presence in this tournament in fact in reality changed the standard of Indian soccer and also the mindset of the spectators and viewers who are glued to their TV sets watching the games of their favourites. Besides the involvement and presence in the Stadia of the celebrities namely Bollywood Stars, Cricketers and the Business Magnates gave a strong booster for this tournament  to further the promotion of Indian soccer.  The first step taken this season by the organizers will surely pave the way for the better days ahead for Indian soccer which will definitely improve vastly.

For better results the teams in the next season must make extra efforts to rope in some of the top footballers from Europe and South America even by spending some extra money if there is benefit for the improvement of Indian soccer standard and I am sure there is going to be benefit.  If necessary, FIFA’s assistance should be sought to help recruit top world class players on loan basis for a short period to make the sleeping giant awake in soccer.

Zico is not a God to change things for Goa team within a very short time even though he changed the standard of Goa team a lot as seen from the level of the game yesterday played by the Goans.  They had more possession of the ball, they had better control of the ball, their passing was more accurate thru the available gaps, their feinting techniques were vastly superior, their ball control was better and their stamina was enormous.  They had everything in their favour to win this encounter except luck just as Zico’s Brazil team of 1982 World Cup trained by that genius coach Tele Santana had everything in their favour except luck otherwise the Italian team trained by Enzo Bearzot and dominated by the newly resurrected Paolo Rossi would never win that crucial encounter against the mighty Brazil when the great white Pele played an heroic role.  If it was not for the two missed chances in the second half, yesterday Goa would surely get the maximum points.

The Goan team was also unlucky for not getting a Red Card to Fikru when he clearly head butted Goan defender.  If the American Referee was a bit strict he would have shown Red Card to Fikru and  Kolkatta would be in a weaker position thereby Goa getting into better position to win this match. All the three goals scored by Santos of Goa and Cavin of Kolkatta were excellent deserving highest accolades. However, the second goal scored by the Goan boy from Cancona for Kolkotta against his motherland Goa was more beautiful.  Cavin a rejected stone by his team for earlier matches finally turned out to be the cornerstone in yesterday match.  No doubt spirited Goan team lost the match but standard of Indian soccer won a lot.

 A.    Veronica Fernandes,

Candolim, Goa.

Tel: 7507394349.

CRIMINAL INJUSTICE TO KONKANI.

Since the time of exit of Portuguese from Goa  I have been promoting the cause of Konkani, first as a small school going boy and later on as a young man from Kuwait.  When the issue of Statehood for Goa became known to prevent merger of Goa with Maharastra, fighting for the cause of Konkani became imperative.   When I went to Kuwait in 1975, the first movement of mine was for the cause of Konkani and that was to establish a Konkani Daily owned by the people.  The late Evagrio George was my link who was the man on the field in Goa.  All the earlier Roman script Konkani Dailies lacked the required funds to sustain and failed. Uzvadd was surviving on fringe but it was owned by Chowgules who were pro-mergerists and pro-Marathi. While busy in campaigning for starting of one people’s Romi Konkani Daily, suddenly I got the news that Evagrio George met with an accident and died.

Immediately then Gurunath Kelekar a freedom fighter, a staunch lover of Konkani and the editor of Romi Konkani Weekly "Goencho Mog" from Margao initiated his movement in Goa under the banner of Novem Goem Pratishtan (A trust) to establish a people’s Daily in Konkani in two scripts – Romi and Nagri.  For this project some of the Trustees along with the supporters of this cause travelled on foot all over Goa asking donation for this project.

According to all the learned NGP Trustees comprising Doctor, Lawyers, Journalist and activists,  all selected by Kelekar,  the budgeted amount required for this project was Rupees Five Lakhs.  Once one lakh was collected they promised to start first the Romi Daily and when the collection reaches to 5 lakhs, the Nagri script Daily would start.  This was the written assurance NGP given to the public and this view in mind they went all over Goa for money collection, this Yatra lasted for about a month. 

Since Kelekar was aware of my move for the people’s daily thru the late Evagrio George before his death, Kelekar asked me to support NGP which I immediately did by forming a new association in Kuwait known as “Novem Goem Pratishthan Kuwait Somiti” to raise funds for NGP project.  The Kuwait Somiti was formed with highly influential and intellectual Kuwait Goans  of which type are not existing now in Kuwait.  Mr. Alexander Menino Fernandes from  Colva was also responsible in the formation of this Somiti which was headed by one senior and highly reputed Goan,  A. B. Fernandes also from Colva.  Me as an initiator was appointed as Jt. Secretary along with Alexandre M. Fernandes.

Then we as a team worked very hard to raise funds for this cause first by contributing money from our pockets and then from others thru donations and also  by organizing Tiatros.  Within a short time we managed to collect one lakh which we sent to NGP, Goa and later on more.  The final amount we collected from Kuwait for NGP was a little less than 5 lakhs of rupees. This was our money from Kuwait alone but besides Kuwait, donations came also from other parts of the Gulf and elsewhere, however the Kuwait donation was much higher.

To raise the fund in this way  from Kuwait we the then Kuwaitcars worked day and night doing extreme sacrifices even putting our jobs and other facilities into problems, inconvenienced our personal and family life because to struggle to raise such a huge fund in a country like Kuwait where the local laws are so rigid is very difficult, especially during that particular time. But we all did it for the cause of Konkani.  Inspite of doing so much what was the result?  Not only Romi Daily NOT survived but Nagri Daily never realized even though we from Kuwait itself sent the required money as budgeted by all the educated trustees of  NGP.

It is very much hurting to write here that NGP trustees frittered away recklessly the people’s money by fighting among them like Cats and Dogs.  They failed miserably to maintain the trust people invested in them by acting irresponsibly. If it was their personal money they would act very cautiously but since it was from the public they made wrong use of it. In the bargain we from Kuwait lost our credibility in front of the people while thru NGP movement some trustees gained foothold in public life.  The two main trustees Dr. Rebello started accusing Kelekar and Kelekar to Dr. Rebello. In the bargain not only NGP came into extinction but with it the great ideal behind NGP also came into extinction thru the Criminal Injustice to Konkani Cause.

After NGP move, in coordination with the late  Mathanay Saldanha, I, as proposed by Mathanay, was to go to the Goans in Kuwat again with an idea of purchasing Goan land for Goans only thru their contribution just as we did for NGP.  The time was very ripe then to venture into  this project but when NGP failed us on Konkani front I felt shy to approach our people in Kuwait again and thus our second project of purchasing Goan land remained unfulfilled otherwise a good portion of Goan land would remain in our hands instead of going it into the hands of Delhivalas and other non-Goans who are become big Bhattkars in Goa.

 

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

 

     

TIATRO "SUKHANT TOXEM DUKHANT" BY PRINCE JACOB.

 

 

Yesterday, 17.10.14, at Panjim Kala Acdemy Hall, at 7.30 PM, I had the opportunity to watch Prince Jacob’s latest Tiatro “SUKHANT TOXEM DUKHANT” which was attended almost by the capacity crowd.

 

Opening Song

 

 It was an excellent Tiatro, well scripted and very well enacted by all the artistes but especial mention must go to the veteran and still attractive Annie Quadros whose role as a devoted and faithful wife was spotless. Opposite to her as her unfaithful husband Jose played an equally appropriate role and as their school going daughter, kudos to youngster Sonia for playing a magnificent role at this young age. Bright future is in store for her on Konkani Stage.  New entrant in this troupe Valencia did right justice to her role with her attractive presentation and appropriate acting.

Seen Annie Quadros singing her solo

 

Comedy roles were beautifully handled by Humbert, Prince Jacob and Hazl  who nicely and appropriately synchronized into the bracket of two well known comedian brothers. She showed all the smartness and caliber to rise to the occasion and in fact she did rise.

One of the scenes

 

The central idea of the story reverberate the words the newly married couple utter in the Church at the time of their marriage to remain firm to each other thru thick and thin – “SUKHANT TOXEM DUKHANT”. But do they remain firm? No and Yes and to see the correct answer one has to personally see this Tiatro which is going very well all over Goa.

Seen Humbert & Prince Jacob singing on Brazil janket

 

In the Side Show songs Annie Quadros renders a very good solo, so also her song  she beautifully sings with Valencia. Ignatius de Xelvon’s both the solos are worth admiring, so too Cajetan de Curtorim’s solo on looter Policeman. Prince Jacob duo with Humbert on Ministers Brazil World Cup junket was very well accepted by the audience, so too their trio with Cajetan de Curtorim on Dawlikar and Bikini.

Seen above Annie Quadros & Valencia singing

 

Humbert-Cajetan-Jacob singing a trio Dawlikar - Bikini.

 

Though the Side Show songs were good but presence of one or two more well-known songsters would have given an added booster to this already well enacted Drama.

Last scene of the Tiatro

Well done Prince Jacob and his troupe.

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