WE NEED TO BE SERIOUS TO DEVELOP FOOT-BALL IN GOA.

Congratulations to FC Goa for their victory against Jamshedpur FC on 11^th of this month at Fatorda Ground, Goa.  My full admiration to Lanzarote for scoring both the goals of FC Goa but the second one was just a class by itself and his ingenuity. However, discipline wise he proved to be very bad having no control over his temperament. Having played in the West in more grueling competitions he should have taken this tournament in good strides. Losing his temper for any trivial incident that is very common in the game like soccer is his weakness which he should correct or his coach should reprimand him as was done to the great midfielder of Brazil of 1970 World Cup winning team, by his Team Manager.

Arguing with the referees especially by the Western players as it is seen in this tournament, proved how low they consider the Indian umpires though the Indians are lacking in wielding strong control over these matches. Psychologically the Western players are having very low opinion of the Indian Referees and since this is the case the organizers must introduce Western Referees to supervise the matches of this tournament. During Portuguese rule in Goa, the Pakle footballers used to defy the decision of Goan Referees and because of this many of the encounters had to be abandoned. Those Portuguese Pakles had very low opinion of Goan Referees because many times these Goan Referees were guilty of wielding strong control of the situation. By the way, the decision of awarding penalty to Goa against Jamshedpur FC was the right decision because infringement in the box is penalty.  The equalizer of Jamshedpur FC was absolutely the mistake of Goa’s defense that left the 3 opponents totally unmarked to score the equalizer.

The greatest weakness of FC Goa is their defense where every defender acts as dribbler in his own goalmouth.  Such tactics are risky. The greatest Brazilian Coach, Tele Santana in 1982 World Cup in Spain, made the biggest mistake by not prohibiting his defenders from dribbling the ball in their own citadel instead of releasing the ball first time to safer area, against Paolo Rossi’s Italy and thus exiting miserably from that World Cup. In fact that year’s Brazilian squad consisted of the mighty players as never seen before neither in Brazil nor in the World elsewhere. Even the 1970 Brazilian World Cup winning squad and keeping the Jules Rimet Trophy for good for Brazil by winning it for the third time, was not as powerful as this 1982 squad.

It was known in Brazil that year in 1982 that Brazil squad was certain to win that year’s final and for this reason many well wishers of this squad in Brazil while leaving for Spain to participate in the 1982 tournament hailed them as World Champions in advance only.  But ultimately something different happened in Spain when Brazil  were  defeated by Poulo Rossi’s Italy when in fact Paolo Rossi scored the magnificent hat-trick that finally sent Brazil squad straight to home empty handed. Some of the magnificent players of that Brazilian 1982 squad were Zico – Socrates – Eder – Serginho – Junior.  I am yet to see again another Eder. That squad was beautifully groomed into a perfect homogeneous entity by their great Coach Tele Santana whose knowledge of this game was extremely high.  Besides he was the very good reader of this game.    

The management of FC Goa by using Goa’s name, fame and image should rise to the occasion and hire at least a top first division German or English or South American Coach by keeping at his disposal all the requirements needed to produce the first class outfit where more Goans are made to fit in the team. This year FC Goa lacks more Goan players when Goan players should have been given greater representation taken into consideration the name of the team.  The management of FC Goa should not think they got the name on Rent. Every second player of FC Goa is a non Goan, why is this and who is responsible for this? 

The huge number of vociferous Goan spectators supporting and applauding the FC Goa has anytime realized the injustice done to the indigenous Goan players by the commercial oriented management of FC Goa?  The Goan spectators should not give an impression that they are also hired by the  FC Goa management. Are there no footballers in Goa to represent FC Goa? Is Goa otherwise so rich in producing soccer players suddenly gone bankrupt in this field?  And by the way, what efforts the non-Goan owners and management of FC Goa made to produce indigenous players to represent FC Goa?  I must caution the  current non-Goan owners of FC Goa that the name of Goa is not for sale nor for rent and they should not misuse the very good image of Goa in soccer to gain them commercially and politically. 

Goa may be small in length and breadth but surely very wide and big in the field of soccer producing finest players of which type India is yet to produce. The achievement of Goa in this field are worth admiring. The first match played in Goa under flood lights was somewhere in 1956 which was very early. The Arpora School of St.Joseph’s High School, had the unique distinction to play against the visiting German soccer team in 1946 proving that even the standard of school soccer teams in Goa was high. Some of the Goan players after developing in Goa went to Bombay and Africa and earned name and fame for them as best players.  The football is running along with the blood in the veins of Goans and as per Goan tradition the first toy given to the new born Goan child is a small ball.    

  

From the events taking place it looks to me the owners of FC Goa, the owner of Casino is not much interested in developing Goan soccer, I have a feeling his interest in taking over FC Goa was only to promote his business by gaining the goodwill of Goans and besides the money collected from the sinful Casino will never help Goa to develop Goan soccer.  Sin and development will never go together specially in the land that is dedicated to Saint Francis Xavier calling it “Saibachem Goem”. It is an insult to St. Francis Saib to use money collected from his land thru sinful methods to utilize it for the spread of soccer.   As a priest, I am sure St. Francis Xavier  must have played soccer as a seminarian and as such he must surely have love for this sport but he will never bless the spread of this game financed thru sinful money.

However, inspite of what I said above, money should not be a hindrance in India to develop soccer by hiring top players and coaches from all around the globe preferably from UK or Germany or Argentina.  To do this, the organizers and promoters of current soccer teams must be ready to spend money if they are really interested in developing our football in the country.     

                       

 A.Veronica Fernandes.

  

ACCUMULATE FUND FOR GOAN CAUSES.

Konkani language issue would not easily gain the success and Goa would not easily get the Statehood if the Kuwait Goans in particular and the Gulf Goans in general would not pour money in the Konkani movement in Goa to fight for this cause.  I went to Kuwait for employment in March 1975 and immediately after landing in Kuwait I embarked on the promotion of Goan causes, the first cause I  took was of Konkani knowing its imperativeness to get Statehood for Goa to eradicate once and for all the fear of merger of Goa with Maharastra. We worked for Konkani movement because only on the basis of Konkani recognition, Goa would get the Statehood because Indian States are formed on the basis of languages i.e. one language – one State.

In view of this in 1979 we formed in Kuwait, Novem Goem Pratishtan Kuwait Somiti to raise fund for People’s Daily “NOVEM GOEM” in Konkani, in both the scripts, Roman and Nagri, to be established in Goa.  The total cost of this whole project was as estimated by Novem Goem Pratishtan -  A Trust formed for this project in Goa - was 5 lakhs of which one lakh rupees for Romi Daily and when this fund collection from the public reaches to 5 lakhs, NGP assured to starts the Nagri script also. 

   

From Kuwait itself within a very short time we collected 1 lakh thru personal donations and by organizing social activities mainly the Tiatros where every Tiatrist participated without taking any fees.  Later on by keeping the momentum intact we managed to collect almost or a little less than 5 lakhs. Besides our brothers and sisters in other parts of the Gulf mainly Abu Dhabi  also collected some fund for this cause.  But what was regrettable was the dormancy displayed in this matter by our brothers and sisters in the West who showed total negligence in contributing anything for this.  It is not enough to say “Oh our Goa is gone” but to prevent it from going what have we done?  Organising parties, Goa Day functions and celebrating  the feast of St. Francis Xavier and then gathering in the hall for the ballroom dance by drinking alcohol and eating Goan Sorpotel will not prevent Goa from going into the hands of Indian Ghanttis. By selling our ancestral houses and properties to the Indian Ghanttis and with the help of Portuguese Passports settling in the West we will never save Goa from going into the hands of our enemies. 

Besides, we from Kuwait itself raised funds for so many other causes namely for Direct Flight from Kuwait to Dabolim, for Goa Cancer Hospital at Donapaula – as per my information it was around 20 lakhs, for helping the runaway maids from Kuwaiti houses to avoid persecution from the Kuwait bosses and madams and many others.  These issues needed money urgently at that time and we fulfilled our obligations by our financial assistance. I was instrumental in raising funds for most of those causes while for others by being on forefront in providing my total assistance. Because of so deeply involving in the Goan causes there was too much of strain on my health, life security and on my personal finance because of which I had to deny so many amenities to my family.

The last major cause I was about to handle with Mathanay Saldanha was to raise fund and accumulate it to create Land Bank.  The purpose of this was to prevent the Indian Ghanttis from purchasing Goan land and thereby acquiring the ownership of Goa just as Jews did in Palestine and became the owners of Palestine. But due to many reasons I could not move further in this matter though we both me and Mathanay Saldanha on his own initiative had dicusion on this topic.  The idea was like this:  I will take care of Kuwait to collect as donation KD 1.000 from every willing Goan from Kuwait and in the similar manner entrust somebody in other parts of the Gulf including in the West.

Now I am no more in Kuwait and in Goa my health is wavering, body parts and organs are malfunctioning, instead of walking straight I am walking slanting, the last stage of my life as Shakespeare mentioned in his last drama “As you like it” meaning Sans Teeth –Sans Eyes – Sans Limbs - looks approaching very fast.  Though I am physically from Kuwait unable to collect and create more funds for many of our causes in Goa  which require financial help yet I have strong faith in my colleagues and friends whom I bade adieu 4 years back while leaving Kuwait for good, that they will do this job much better than anybody because during my long stay in Kuwait I have with my colleagues already laid a strong base conducive to collect fund for any good cause in Goa.

Patriotic Goans in  Kuwait like Domnick Araujo, Domnick Fernandes, Gasper Almeida, Gasper Crsto, Carmo Santos, Salvador Dias, Fidelis Fernandes, B.M. Viegas and many others should join together under one banner and organize functions and collect fund for this cause.  Then deposit it in their name only and disburse it as and when required for the good causes in Goa of course after ascertaining the worth of these causes. Many of the activists in Goa are starving for finance because they have zero in their pockets but they have abundant talent to move forward, I know them very well, whenever possible I lend them my meager financial support, but this is not enough. 

Government in Goa is very powerful and doing too much injustice against Goa, Goans and Christians more.  We have obligation to protect our interest and not just talk  saying “Goem atam gelem” or “Makam kiteak poddlam?” Makam ani Tukam poddonkna tor konnank poddlam?  Ghanttiank? Tor faleam Goem Ghanttiancheam hathin poddtoch maguir roddonakant.  These today’s Ghanttis in Goa tomorrow they will become Goans and the day after tomorrow they will become our bosses and masters and then they will make us as their slaves.  This is a very serious issue about which very few Goans apply their minds.  The Government of Goa is least bothered on this issue because Parricar’s BJP Government like MGP earlier is anti-Goan, anti – Christian. This government is ready to invest all its resources to deChristianise Goan Christians and time for this is not very far.  BJP under Parricar has already succeeded in Hindunising three of his Christian MLA’s. And given a further opportunity he will convert all his Christian colleagues in the Goa Legislative Assembly into hard core Hindus.   

In Goa still some important activities are left to be conducted and for these activities financial assistance is required. There are groups here in Goa that  are waging a strong war on injustice done to Romi Konkani and when time comes they may require financial help to carry forward their movement and at that right time they may approach us Romivadis for help.  At this time we must be prepared to support our brothers to move forward by supplying the required financial tonic. At this time we cannot remain as silent spectators.  We have obligations to help those who are helping the Goan causes.  I have strong confidence that our Kuwait brothers will not let us down by disowning their responsibility by saying “MAKAM KITEAK PODDLAM”.  If this is going to be the answer then we have no right to call ourselves as Goans.  Similarly there are other important issues which are handled by different activists to protect Goan environment, to prevent the harmful effect of Coal in Vasco, to protect the rights of the indigenous Goans  and many more such issues.  These activists are to be supported and by what means?  It is only thru our financial assistance.

A.Veronica Fernandes. 

                

NEW TIATRO "THANK YOU GOD" BY PAL SOARES.

NEW TIATRO “THANK YOU GOD” BY PAL SOARES.

Yesterday 7^th of this mnth I had the previllege to watch the new Tiatro “THANK YOU GOD” written and directed by one of the best playwrights among the Tiatro writers and directors, Pal Soares who is especially come to Goa to stage this Tiatro, from Lndon where he is working there. 

Seen above is Pal Soares thanking his troupe and the audience

Much to my expectation this Tiatro reached to its nadir story wise, of course as usual.  His earlier Tiatros were also had great quality in them. Pal Soares currently carry the unique distinction of keeping the tradition of writing best of Tiatros as they were written earlier by our gigantic Tiatrists.  His topics are totally different from what we cheaply nowadays get in the Tiatro industry and the greatness of his Tiatros lies in the beautiful “Cantos” he introduces in his Tiatros just as he did in this Tiatro.  

Olga Vaz seen singing her solo on Goan communal Politics

The Play was vehemently shouldered on their shoulders by all the participating artistes among whom I can easily rate the performance  of Chitra as the best where with her majestic personality and appropriate acting she wins the hearts of the audience by playing the role of the wisdomatic mother.  Never ever before I saw her at her best as it was in this Tiatro where Pal Soares ceated her the most appropriate role.  In this role, she really displays her maturity and experience she gained during the preceding years. 

Seen above are the New Comedy Queen Ivon and Comedian Jesus

I don’t have the proper words to highlight in the bold capital letters the greatness of Jessica Gomes in enacting her role as the unmarried mother of a child.  Her personality, beautiful looks and appropriate dress code and of course the delivery of her statements rocked the hall which was though not full.  Her conversation and argument with her ex-boyfriend in the second session of the Tiatro were of Hemletic nature and at moments it melted the hearts of the audience.  I saw some in the audience even with tears in their eyes. Her style of delivery and body language and appropriate posture gave better touch to her performance.  The director deserves highest compliments for selecting her for this role.  Earlier, the great C.Alvares used to utilize the talents of the female artistes in a similar manner.

Seen above is Camilo singing his solo on Body Organs

Godwin does justice to his role and especially the short eloquence he delivered on the benefits of Alcholic Anonymous.  I am sure many among the audience must have gained the benefits of what he spoke.  His vocals were very powerful and he excelled in delivering the Cantos.  His dialogues and arguments with his brother Oldrin were superb.  I fail to understand why such smart artistes are not seen in more Tiatros. Like Pal Soares, other prominent directors must also induct in their Tiatros such artistes.  We must encourage them further to rise up and flourish on the Konkani Stage. The small roles played by Cruz Pinto as the father and by Sanaya as the daughter were laudable. The role played by the young girl Francisca as an illegitimate child was very impressive.

Youngster Estenecio singing his solo

It is to the credit of director that every artiste played his or  her role well inspite of the lack of proper rehearsals.  According to my information due to unavoidable circumstances,  Pal Soares at the last moment was to stop staging this Tiatro now but “Thank You God”, with the strong backing of all the artistes he finally took the step to go ahead and because of this, audience like me who are hungry for the good script and good enactment managed to quench our thirst of witnessing a beautiful story. And precisely because of this, I feel those who are interested in watching a Tiatro with good story like what we used to watch from the yesteryear top Tiatrists, they must not miss this Tiatro.  Pal Soares also plays a small role which is liked by the audience.   Jose also played a nice role of a goonda type boy. 

A Scene where the lovely pair of Godwin & Jessica  are seen 

In the Side-Show songs, as usual, Olga Vaz stole the show by rendering a powerful political solo where she tore the BJP Government in Goa under Parricar, into pieces especially for the harassment and persecution they give to the Christians. She even questioned the Christian members of BJP why they kept their silence when Parricar government is working so hard to destroy Christianity in Goa.  She called all the Christians MLA’s of BJP as impotent to raise their voices against injustice done to Christians. She also rendered a nice duet with Anil Pednecar.  Marcos Vaz rendered a song on the effect of the Coal in Vasco. Both the solos of Camilo were well rendered especially the second one on the importance of our organs, namely the Heart, the Brain and Kidneys. Young boy Estencio by rendering a nice solo indicated that another star is already born in the constellation of Konkani Stage.

Anther scene where Pal Soares & Pinto are seen

Musical score for this Tiatro was beautifully provided by James & Shennon and troupe. 

Yet one more scene where Comedians Pitush & Ivon are seen

Though the Tiatro and artistes were good but the director has goofed in starting the Tiatro at 3.15 PM instead of at 3.30 PM as indicated in the Newspaper.

Sanya is seen singing her solo

Though the artistes performed well yet the Mike system was faulty as everything what is said on the stage was not very audible to entire the audience. 

The last scene where the reunion is seen 

Though the artistes performed well yet the Mike system was faulty as everthing what is said on the stage was not very audible to entire the audience. 

                                           Another scene where Jose-Pitush-Ivon are seen 

The Cantos need to be rendered a bit louder, only when Godwin and Jessica rendered them, they were audible.

Congratulations to Pal Soares and his entire troupe. Well done Pal.

A.Veronica Fernandes.