CANDOLIM FOOTBALL ARENA INAUGURATION.

10^th of February will remain an unique date in the history of Candolim Football arena because on this date the Candolim Foot-ball Arena was inaugurated  to cater to the needs of the football playing teams and players. It was the wonderful work done by the Candolim Panchayat under the leadership of young and energetic Sarpanch Blaize and his team of the Panchas.  

                                             Match is in progress

                                           Cidade de Goa team

The football ground was just repaired and reworked by spending lot of money by the Panchayat and the name of this Stadium is rightly retained as Dr. Gustavo Monteiro who has done so much for the development of Candolim soccer from early fifties when he  used to run the  Club almost single handedly even when the Candolim figured in the elite club of first division along with the then mighty teams of Goa dotted with some of the great Portuguese Pakle players from Portugal and also the Negro players from the Portuguese Colonies.  Can anyone remember the deadly magician right outer of Vasco Sports Club the renowned Arantel?  Similarly, can any one remember the much greater than all the greats from Portugal and its colonies, the gigantic and deadly sharp shooter Negro foot-baller playing for Bemfica's Mapusa as Centre forward?  Will we be able to see such genii again in our remaining life?  And is there anyone in my own village Candolim who remembers the 4 dynamic Prtuguese Pakle soldiers from Aguada who were inducted into the Candolim team thru the tremendous efforts of Dr. Gustavo Monteiro the moment  Candolim just a village team qualified into the Primeiro Divisao, thanks to the excellent efforts put in by Dr. Gustavo Monteiro to get them? Otherwise who else could do this job besides Dr. Gustavo in the absence of any other village stalwart? Why cannot we with the combined efforts of the Panchayat, local MLA Michael Lobo, family members of Dr. Gustavo Monteiro and of course the locals jointly embark on the mission of erecting the Monument or at a least a bust of Dr. Gustavo Monteiro in view of the excellent work he did in the promotion of Candolim Foot-ball?  The team that Candolim had and that had qualified for the First Divission was known as dream team and  during those days the name and fame of that  dream soccer team of Candolim  even reached to Portugal.  Some of the players of that golden team were  Goalkeepers Antonio Cabral (Tony Cal) from Orda St. Cruz and Shripad near Shanta Durga Temple; Backs - Right: Andrew Machado from Orda St. Cruz and Baba Naik - Left Back;  Midfielders Madhu Left Half - Centre Half my one brother Jose Marie and Rright Half Bushan who never played with Boots;  Centre Forward Cheddo my other  brother, right wing Babazinho, left wing Kamal and left outer Satchut.  It is to be noted that in Candolim first time in the history 3 brothers played together namely Kamal-Madhu - Satchut and the second a team of three brothers played for one team of Candolim were Cheddo-Jose Marie -Antonio Veronica Fernandes.

                                          Seen above is Shawn Martins Ex Sarpanch of Calangute  

                                 Seen above are some spectators in front of Foot -ball Arena                             

The ground was left into the hands of Dr Gustavo Monteiro who in the mid sixties handed it over to the Candolim Panchayat which was the right decision. Though it was not his own ground but it belonged to  the Nuns who acquired it for them to construct a big Convent but due to some unavoidable circumstances, they were denied permission by their Headquarters to construct the Convent.  Then the Nuns  left Candolim and Goa as well by leaving that big property into the hands of Portuguese Patriarch of Goa from whom Dr. Gustavo Monteiro got it for the local boys to play foot-ball. Since it did not belong to Dr. Monteiro, he did the right thing by not keeping it for him.  

Since the custody of foot-ball ground is the monopoly of Panchayat, the leadership of Blaize as Sarpanch has created lot of activities for the local boys.  The local MLA Micahel Lobo is very helpful and co-operative in promoting these activities and speaking to me he said he will do everything within his capacity to develop Candolim boys in sports in general and in foot-ball in particulars.  This view in mind, Candolim Panchayat started  Foot-ball Academy in Candolim which is organized by the local soccer expert Ricardo Cardoso who was an international goalkeeper having vast experience in this field. He is the son of once renowned and highly professional goal-keeper of Goa during his days and who even started a soccer Academy in Candolim but as per information the moment the leadership of  local soccer body was changed then this Academy was stopped.  

Coming back to the Football Academy under the guidance of Ricardo Cardoso,  about 50 local young boys are getting training on this ground and as Mich/ael Lobo said within the next few years Candolim will produce some of the topmost Goan footballers.

                                           FC Goa players with Michael Lobo                                                                                                                               

                     Members of the Dr. Guustavo Monteiro's family.  1st on left is Carlos the younger son of Dr. Gustavo Monteiro.

                                List of the players who donned the colours of Candolim A Team 

                                          Seen are musicioans playing music

On 10^th afternoon the foot-ball ground and the entire stadium was having electrifying effect on the large number of spectators not only from Candolim but also from the ambient villages gathered to greet Coro and his other 2 FC colleagues Jahou and Mohammad Nawaz.  Coro was the Chief guest for the function to inaugurate the Football Arena  which he did in the presence of Michael Lobo and huge gathering.  Then a friendly foot-ball match was played between Churchill Bros. and Cidade de Goa which ended in a goalless draw and in the ensuing penalty shoot-out, the Cidade de Goa won the match. 

                                         Very busy man the compeer Xavier covering everything 

                                                                                     Another section of the spectators.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

                                         

FOUNDATION STONE LAID TO GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL IN CANDOLIM.

Yesterday, on 10^th February, 2020, two major events have taken place in Candolim, one at Dando side where there is an existing Health Centre, where the Candolim Panchayat is going to build a new Hospital with all the modern facilities for any sort of emergency, the foundation stone has been laid today in the morning in the presence of a good number of people in attendance while seated at the dais were the main Guest the Chief Minister of Goa Dr. Sawant  along with other guests and special invitees namely the Minister and MLA of Calangute constituency Michael Lobo, Health Minister Viswajeet Rane, Mapusa MLA Joshua, Candolim Village Sarpanch and others. 

T                    The birthday Boy- the Candolim Sarpanch Blaize seen addressing the gathering 

What is the need  of Hospital in Candolim when there already is one as existing and it is  known as the Government Health Centre.  However,  in this same Health Centre due to the increasing number of population  in our locality there appeared a demand for a bigger and better Hospital having latest instruments and facilities to cater to the needs of the people.

Taking note of this need, Candolim Village Panchayat in close liaison with the local MLA and Minister Michael Lobo laid the foundation stone for the construction  of this new Hospital that has received a nod from the Jr. Rane.

Seen above are all the dignitaries namely Lobo -CM-V.Rane - Joshua

Let us see thru historical context how, when and under what circumstances the existing Health Centre was built. It was built about 50 years back.  In fact the government plan under the then Chief Minister of Goa, Dayananda  Bandodcar was for the erection of  one Health Center at Siolim.  All formalities were comleted only foundation stone date was to be announced.  However, during that particular time 5 MGP MLA’s withdrew their support to MGP government.  So to offset the loss of 5 of his MLA’s and to maintain the parity, Bandodcar started poaching for 5 MLA’s.  He started searching frantically 5 MLA’s from UG Party even by purchasing them for any amount and giving them anything they want in exchange of 5 MLA’s.  He found 4 namely from Benaulim Elu Miranda, from Aldona Orlando Lobo Sequira, from Vasco Abdul Razzak and one more.  When he fund difficult to buy the 5^th one, Bandodcar Approached his Saligao MLA Punaji Achrekar to approach Calangute Constituency MLA Valente Sequiera the resident of Candolim.  The persons who brought heavy pressure on Valente Sequeira to defect from UGP to MGP were the popular Sarpanch of Candolim Domnick Lobo a Gulf returnee and one Panch Krishna Naik also a Gulf returnee.  These two and Valente Sequiera all these three were the worst enemies of one local very prominent doctor who was the strong supporter and promoter of UGP.  Though all the three were in good terms externally with the said doctor yet internally they craved for his blood.  In order to make him lose his medical business and suffer heavy losses,  the three traitors agreed to to help Valente Sequeira to join with Bandodcar’s MGP on condition that Bandodcar allot Candolim one hospital.  For this Bandodcar immediately agreed and thus from Siolim project was transferred to Candolim though Siolim MGP MLA was not happy but Bandodcar succeeded in giving him a Lolipop in some other way. 

                                          Seen is the section of the attendees

What is the need  of Hospital in Candolim when there already is one as existing and it is  known as the Government Health Centre.  However,  in this same Health Centre due to the increasing number of population  in our locality there appeared a demand for a better Hospital having latest instruments and facilities to cateer to the needs of the people.

Taking note of this need, Candolim Village Panchayat in close liaison with the local MLA and Minister Michael Lobo laid the foundation stone for the construction  of this new Hospital.

                                              Yet another section of the attendees. 

Let us see thru historical context how, when and under what circumstances the existing Health Centre was built. It was built about 50 years back.  In fact the government plan under the then Chief Minister of Goa, Dayananda  Bandodcar was for the erection of  one Health Center at Siolim.  All formalities were completed only foundation stone date was to be announced.  However, during that particular time 5 MGP MLA’s withdrew their support to MGP government.  So to offset the loss of 5 of his MLA’s and to maintain the parity, Bandodcar started poaching for 5 MLA’s.  He started searching frantically 5 MLA’s from UG Party even by purchasing them for any amount and giving them anything they want in exchange of 5 MLA’s.  He found 4 namely from Benaulim Elu Miranda, from Aldona Orlando Lobo Sequira, from Vasco Abdul Razzak and one more.  When he fund difficult to buy the 5^th one, Bandodcar Approached his Saligao MLA Punaji Achrekar to approach Calangute Constituency MLA Valente Sequiera the resident of Candolim.  The persons who brought heavy pressure on Valente Sequeira to defect from UGP to MGP were the popular Sarpanch of Candolim Domnick Lobo a Gulf returnee and one Panch Krishna Naik also a Gulf returnee.  These two and Valente Sequiera all these three were the worst enemies of one local very prominent doctor who was the strong supporter and promoter of UGP.  Though all the three were in good terms externally with the said doctor yet internally they craved for his blood.  In order to make him lose his medical business and suffer heavy losses,  the three traitors agreed to to help Valente Sequeira to join with Bandodcar’s MGP on condition that Bandodcar allot Candolim one hospital.  For this Bandodcar immediately agreed and thus from Siolim project was transferred to Candolim though Siolim MGP MLA was not happy but Bandodcar succeeded in giving him a Lolipop in some other way.

In this way the Health Center of Candolim was erected but that doctor whom all the three local tin-pot politicians wanted to teach a good lesson purely out of jealousy for the good doctor no negative effect was created.

                                           Mapusa MLA Joshua

The reason to lay the foundation stone for this Hosital yesterday 10^th of this month was  to mark the birthday of the local Candolim Sarpanch Blaize.  Taking advantage of this write – up, I wish Blaize a very happy birthday and pray to God to give him wisdom and guidance to rule our village nicely without any bias towards anyone. 

Once again, Blaize, I wish you a very hapopy birthday on behalf of me, my family and all the like minded people of Candolim.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

TIATRO "UTT ... ANI CHOL" BY BENEVANGELISTO.

Seen above is beautiful Jolita singing her tital song

On 7^th of this month in Panjim at Kala  Academy Hall, at 7.45 PM, I saw the Tiatro “UTT ani CHOL” written and directed by Ben Evangelisto. This Tiatro of Ben is coming after 14 years since he was afflicted with sickness that made him immobile to act on the Stage for such a long time. During his so many years of sickness, he faced lot of trauma and difficulties in life even though many of his friends and well wishers were praying very hard for his recovery.  When he was ok before falling sick he was very jovial, disciplined and friendly that created a big friendly circle of his.

The beautiful solo comparing the work of elder Tiatrist with current ones

What made him sick suddenly when he was otherwise so well?  From my childhood I was told that the most dangerous and jealous people among Goans are the Tiatrists because they don’t like to see their own colleagues coming up, prosperous and gaining name and fame.  This does not mean that all the Tiatrists are like that, no, but some are among their circle and these some are creating a very bad image of their entire segment.  But when Ben indicates in his Tiatro how his own fellow Tiatrist whose role Anil Pednekar performs so well, tries to poison Ben to kill him and finish him from the Stage purely out of jealousy because he could not bear to see Ben gaining celebrity status.  And hence, he goes ahead with this nasty plan but it failed to create the required effect. 

                           Seen above is one Scene where Tari & Rosy Alvares are seen

What does this indicate?  Doesn’t it show that there are Bastardised Tiatrists among us who want to destroy some among them? When Rosary Ferns died a few years back after acting in one Tiatro that night, there were so many stories circulated that he was the victim of jealousy among his colleagues not only in Kuwait but also in Goa and they must have poisoned Rosary.

                                  Seen above in another scene Tari and Anil Pednekar

It was about 45 years back, H. Briton was shining on the Stage, hence he acquired some jealousy from his colleagues. One night, in a Tiatro of C. Alvares after finishing his song with 3 encores, one unknown person congratulated Briton through a small opening of the fence behind the Stage and gave Briton a Chocolate which he displayed as a great honour, to his colleagues, then broke it into two pieces and while about to put one piece into his mouth, suddenly from nowhere C. Alvares came there and snatched the Chocolate from Briton’s hand. Briton got angry, then Alvares took Briton and a few more artistes outside the Mattou, called some dogs that were frequenting around there, threw one piece to the dog and when that dog ate it, within a few moments the dog collapsed.  This is to prove how the Basterdised Tiatrists are finishing the life of some of the shining Stage artistes purely out of jealousy.  Have you  any time noticed one Tiatrist speaking good of other TIatrist? Either never or very rarely.

                                              Seen above is Fr. Isibio singing his solo.

Coming back to the Tiatro “Utt ani Chol” which has Biblical connotation that indicates how a sick man with the power of God getting up from the bed where he is lying down due to sickness and starts walking.  In  another word, Ben was bed ridden and when everyone deserted him, no doubt some were very close to him namely his wife and a few others but the almighty God remained closest to him and only thru His love for him, God cured Ben of his sickness. 

            Seen above the attractive pair of Konkani Stage Olga & Anil singing their song.

The Tiatro started at 7.45 PM while the attendance was more or less half the capacity.  Most of these attendees were very sympathetic with Ben because they know the greatness of this Stage stalwart.  The role of Ben Evangelisto performed by Tari was so good that even if I am given whole day and the whole night to write Hosanas of Tari, I will never get tired.  That is the strong point of Tari who is the great gift of God for Konkani Stage.  Opposite to Tari the role of Ben’s wife played by Rosy Alvares was superb, this is the greatness of Alvares Families.  Stage acting and singing comes outomatically for them, “Tiatristpon”  is  in their blood and Rosy Alvares being a member of Alvares clan she should be smart as she indicated her smartness.  One Canto that she rendered was so beautiful that I can easily call it the Minguel Rodan type of Canto, so sorrowful words, so sorrowful tune and moreover her singing it with her soft and serene voice brought an extra beauty to this Canto.  Such Cantos are not heard nowadays, normally. Jolita too played her role well along with Cajy de Kakoda, some attendees were expecting a solo from his mouth as he is a very good singer. The role of a priest was nicely played by the real priest Fr. Isibio.

Seen above is Ben offering his thanks for the audience.

While on the subject of priests involving in Tiatros, it was some years back in Kuwait, Fr. Freddy de Costa came to Kuwait to stage his Tiatro  in the Church Hall in Kuwait.  When he went with the recommendation letter of the Bishop of Goa – Rahul Gonsalves – to the Bishop of Kuwait Monsg. Frances Mechallef,  the Kuwait Bishop got so annoyed on Fr. Freddy that the same Bishop of Kuwait not only denied the facility of the Church Hall to Fr. Freddy but on top of it he went a step ahead and fired a letter immediately to the Goa Bishop asking the Goa  Bishop Gonsalves this, “WHAT PASTORAL SIGNIFICANCE THIS VISIT TO KUWAIT WITH HIS TIATRO HAS?”  Later on when I spoke to the Kuwait Bishop, he felt Goa priests are not taking up the issues concerning more urgent needs of the people in Goa.  Tiatro is not the right choice of the priest, instead the Goa Church which according to Bishop Mechallef is so rich that with the help of this wealth the Bishop of Goa must utilize the talent of every priest for the development of Goans in general and Catholics in particular.  

Seen above are in one scene both Ben & Fr. Isibio

The Side Show songs were good but still there was more space to improve, however, inspite of this the songs a political solo by Olga Vaz was so piercing against Michael Lobo that he is depicted as a shameless man who loves to lick the Lamanis.  If this tirade mounted by the Goan political singers go on unstopped  then it will be “Perig” for Lobo in the next election in Calangute constituency where approximately out of about 9 thousand voters aqbout 3,500 are Lamanis. To defeat Michael Lobo the opposition should have to field only one candidate, as one against the other. Her duet with her husband Anil was also powerful where Anil beutified it by rendering a nice “Segundo”. The title song rendered by Jolita was very nice so too the comedy solo on Garbage by the unvulgar comedian Cedrik. The duo  rendered by Starcy and Jolita was beautifully sung so too the trio on Airhostess and Pilot. The solo that Ben rendered on handicapped children was very good and he sang it too very well.

                                           Seen in another Scene are Jolita-Kakoda-Tari

                                    Seen above Jolita & Starcey Mesquita sing their song

The comedy part was not up to the mark though all the commedians performed their roles, however,  inspite of a few vulgar patches which should not be there when the God is eulogized so well in this tiatro,  how on the otherside there can be vulgarity which is the Satanic work?   Ben should apply his mind on this because his image and character is at stake and since a greater number of attendees came to see him, his role and his story penned down by him, the same audience must be satisfied first. The current status of Ben on the Konkani Stage is like that of ‘FIDALGO” and this ststus he must maintained if necessary even by dropping the vulgarists who not likely to change for the better.

                      Seen in above Scene are Tari - Bust of Jacinto Vaz - Rosy Alvares 

Whille concluding, let me congratulate Ben for this Tiatro and wish him good health.

A.Veronica Fernandes.