Here are they- some of them

‘Where are they now?” was the title of my last article and I am sure football aficionados would like to know where they indeed are! I don’t have any ready answers at the moment but in due course with the help from all quarters, I hope someday we will be able to reach out to all.

At the moment these are some of the former players who have come forward to make a difference and run the club. Yes, the club’s executive committee needs to be introduced and I am sure fans, members would like to know who they are. This introduction would have been better with photographs and I shall definitely upload a group photo as and when I get one. When we started in Jan 2009, the executive committee had the following members:

1. Brahmanand Shankwalkar,(Taleigao)- President

2. Armando Colaco( Curtorim)- Advisor

3. Leopold Fernandes(Chicalim)- Treasurer

4 Lector Mascarenhas( Curchorem)- Secretary

5. Jude Fernandes(Mapusa)- Vice President (Bardez)

6. Sanjeev Nagvenkar(Caranzalem)- Vice President (Ilhas)

7. Avertano Furtado (Navelim) Vice President ( Salcette)

8. Peter Valles (Vascao) - Vice President (Mormugao)

9. Agnelo Fonseca(Ponda)- Vice President (Ponda)

10. Lawrence Gomes(Vasco)- Asstt.Secretary .

11. Antonio J.Fernanddes(MArgao)- Asstt.Secretary

12. Baptist Fernandes(Siolim)- Member

13. Costancio Fernandes(Benaulim) Member

14. Martin Pires(Ponda)- Member

15. Dionisio Trinidade(Doana Paula)- Member

16. David D’Souza(Morjim)- Member

17. Agostinho Costa(Vasco)- Member

In the Annual General Body Meeting held on 07.02.2010 at Fatorda Stadium, the following vice presidents were chosen unanimously to reach out to more veteran players, both in Goa and abroad.

1. Shri Mariano Dias(Chandor) Vice President( Quepem)

2 Franky Barreto Vice President (Dubai)

3 Arnold Rodrigues Vice President (England)

4 Gaspar Crasto Vice President (Kuwait)

5 Jerson Rebello Vice President ( Qatar)

6 Selzo Fernandes Vice President (Oman)

7 Roy Barreto Vice President (USA)

8 Feliciano Menezes Vice President (Bermuda)

Before I wind up, let me bring on record the immense contribution of two of the above executive committee members who also happen to be the founder members of the club. The President Shri Brahmanand Shankwalker and the Advisor Shri Armando Colaco have been at the forefront in all the activities of the club. A special mention must be made about the financial contribution done to the club by Shri Armando Colaco who donated Rs 30,000/- to three beneficiaries last year. Besides this he has been instrumental in bringing the sponsorship of Rs 50,000/- to organize the tournament in memory of late V.V.Dempo which is held every year.

Lector Mascarenhas.

Secretary, GVFC.

Forgotten Heroes- Where are they now?

There’s an old adage which says “Like a tree, each one of us must find a place to grow in this world”. Out of the many careers which are on offer, some of us became footballers out of sheer love of the game. After liberation of Goa from the Portuguese, Goans took to football just as fish takes to water. Some of the players were lucky to get jobs in the companies of the clubs for whom they played viz the Dempo, Sesa Goa, Salgaocar etc whereas others not so lucky had to migrate to Bombay and some went overseas- mainly the Gulf.

Footballers are normally pampered, adored, and treated like stars during their prime but once over the hill they are quickly forgotten because a footballer has a shelf life and we all know that there is no value for things after the expiry date. When I joined Dempo SC in 1985, I would often hear the wise senior players comparing a footballer to a prostitute, saying “Prostitutes are in demand only when they are young and good looking”. How very true specially in the case of those players who played from the sixties to eighties, the first three decades after liberation. They gave so much to the game but got nothing much in return.

How do we former players want football aficionados to remember us? Its great to see some of our teammates still serving the game very successfully as coaches, managers and administrators. There are others who are away from the limelight and are mostly forgotten. Let’s make an effort to bring everyone together, go down memory lane, cherish those golden moments, aid those in need of financial assistance in whatever way we can and train the youth, thus giving something back to the game, what the game has given us.

Join- Goa Veterans Football Club.

By,

Lector Mascarenhas,

Secretary, GVFC