When Sheikh Agnelo came to Kuwait first time in the house of Sheikh and when the Sheikh came to know Agnelo is from Goa, the Sheikh sent for him, saw him from close angle and asked some questions, he appreciated Agnelo’s sincere, truthfull and faithful nature. Once Agnelo was confirmed to work for the Sheikh, then there was no wait.
Being an integral part of Goan and Konkani community, he always involved in associating with any cause of Goans either in Kuwait or in Goa. He was one of the founders of their club where they had their soccer team that organised its annual memorial soccer tournament in the name of his late daughter Ida Ferns. Besides he did pivotal job for the cause of the formation of Kuwait Indian Foot-ball Federation (KIFF) and Kuwait Goan soccer. He was also a founder member of IFRA (Indian Football Referees Association being its president too). For a short period he was also a member of Kuwait Konknni Kendr.
In Kuwait among expatriates, his Club organised soccer tournament was very popular and famous, for the final game, he used to invite topmost residents in Kuwait from different communities and nationalities, it is thru his efforts Goans and Goans’ acvtivities in Kuwait made known to the other communities and nationalities. The way he invites the Chief Guests no one else does because if any hurdle comes then he knows how to approach the Boss of of the Chief gest he wants to invite. Once he even invited as a Chief Guest, the head coach of Kuwait soccer team namely the Brazilian Carlos Lopes which created a big booster for Goans in Kuwait. It was a big honour for Goans to see such a mighty man from Brazilian soccer came as Chief Guest for the tournament organisied by Sheikh Agnelo Fernandes. He helped a lot in organising our movement in Goa following the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq, under Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Center to support the liberation of Kuwait.
The great man of Goa, greater than all the Goans in Kuwait, Sheikh Agnelo Fernandes was a man of pure Goan heart, a man with 100% humility and also a very simple man having no pride nor arrogance. Such a man rarely comes in our midst. God has raised him to the pedestal only because of his sincerity and humiity. May his soul rest in peace and may God give courage to his wife and son to bear this colossal loss.
With all my gratitude and thanks for doing so much for us in Kuwait, I am but before finishing I am totally disappointed and disgusted with so many of our Kuwait Goans who inspite of receiving so many favours from him, they bastardised themselves by not attending to his funeral, neither from close by nor from distance. This man Sheikh Agnelo was clean in his dealing never involved in creating mischief of financial collection where he was involved, he was never found at fault while most of the disgraceful Goans in Kuwait were invokved in financial irregularities. Regarding the funeral attendance, somew time back yet one more popular Goan Vincente D'Souza who was very dynamic and founder of so many Goan movements and Goan associations in Kuwait thereby giving so many facilities to the Goans. But when he died sometime back in Goa, hardly a few Goans attended to his funeral. I fail to understand why Kuwait Goan is become so "Beiman" like a "Cheddiocho"? Is he become so bankrupt intellectually that he does not know what is the sense of gratitude?
A.Veronica Fernandes.