III.
OUR LOCAL SPORTS ASSOCIATION.
Our Candolim Sports Club came into existence unofficialyy about 100 years back where Foot-ball was the main important item, first time I saw Candolim Football team playing against Portuguese Military team of Pakle stationed at Aguada about 65 years back, this match was played at Murodd Candolim, near the road going to Nerul, just before the Bridge bridging betwee Candolim and Nerul, on Canolim side where the ground was prepared in the field and as such it was meant to play seasonal soccer from March – April – May, it was here I saw the great Candolim players of that generation who organised themselves into an official outfit of Candolim representing the Village Team of Candolim, some of them were namely My father, my maternal Uncle Dioginho Vaz of whose caliber Candolim is yet to produce another, Manuel Caetano Cardoso - Eugeno Cardoso’s Father (Saipem), Domingo Conceisaum Cardoso from Orda who later on became a Referee, Manuelin Rodrigues from Pintos(Kavli) who as the best disciplined footballer on the field and for whom once Fr. Mendponca of Arpora School Paid rih tributes for his good discipline, Mighty defender and the tallest player in the team Luciano from Dando, Luis (Papa) Vaddi, Krishna Naik Vaddi and some others whose track I lost. That was the first generation of organised Candolim foot-ball team representing Candolim Village officially which was in existence for many years earlier. Those players were physically very strong for this reaon this team was called a “Pelvan Team”. Before this game the foot-ball team of Candolim was in existence. Then the next generation came with the players who were more refined and more sophisticated and more skillfull players comprising my elder brother the late Cheddo who was the main backbone of Goa Police just as that of Candolim and the only Goan to play for Goa Police along with all the Pakle and Khapri Portuguese players , after him Goa Police football team has not till now produced another Cheddo in their front line powerful shooter followed by my another other brother the late Jose Marie ex Sesa Goa Captain, he was the most talented to score goals thru header from the corner kicks, Andrew Machado (earlier Captain of Sesa Goa) and his brother Babazinho of whose type of dribbler I did not see another not only in Candolim but anywhere in Goa (both from Orda St. Cruz), the late Paklo Jose and his late brother John (both From Orda St. Sebatian), Baba Naik (Escrivao Vaddo), Ladru Simer and his late bother Kabul, Lawrence Nascimento all (Ximer), all the three brothers:- Kamal – Madhu- Shatchut (Vaddi), John Mendkar (Bamon Vaddo), Bhushan (Vaddi) and others then came my generation players. I started first time to play for Candolim “A” team when I was just 14 and that too with those earlier giants of second generation like my both the elder brothers as indicated above, Andrew Machado, Ladru etc.
However, the official recognition for Candolim Foot-ball Team was arranged by the late Dr. Gustavo Monteiro who was the great lover of Foot-ball. He got Candolim Foot-ball team recognised at the Goa Foot-ball Association and by spending his precious time after the Candolim Foot-ball Team even guiding the players how to play by physically ineracting with the foot-ballers. After Candolim Club Dr. Gustavo spent lot of his personal money even though he had one associate with him who was helping Dr. Monteiro, he is Mr. D’Silva from Candolim itself. In fact I saw him how D’Silva from his mining business he was utilising his Mining Truck to transport Candolim foot-ballers to Panjm and to other far places to play Candolim’s scheduled games. I saw how the players sitting in the Truck without Seats. Then from the “ Segundo Divisao” Dr. Gustavo Monteiro managed with distinction to have his Candolim Foot-ball team promoted into the “Primeiro Divisao” where there were top teams like Salgaocar, Vasco, Goa Police, Bemfica from Mapusa, St. Inez, MCC Margao (all these teams were manned by Pakles and Kahpris from Portugal and African Portuguese Colonies and as such they were a force to reckon with), Lube from Siolim, Ferroviarius, Bicholim comprising more Pakle and some more. To fortify further, Dr. Gustavo arraned for Candolim team 4 Portuguese best Pakle players from Aguada Millitary citadel. The contribution of Dr. Gustavo Monteiro and his family in the promotion and development of Candolim Sports in general and Soccer in particular was second to none, first by Dr. Gustavo Monteiro followed by his priest brother Pe. Chico Monteiro. The strong foundation laid by Dr. Gustavo Monteiro for the Candolim Foot-ball Club has gained lot of benefits for the village of Candolim.
About my family’s contribution in the development and proromotion of the Candolim Sports in general and football in particular and physical assistance in saving the village and villagers from the jaws of our wild opponents was extremely high. We being 4 brothers the last one was too young then but we all three immediately stood high and erect not only to play and win the game with our opponents but also to provide physical assistance not because we were Dadas, no, surely not but we enjoyed good rapport and cooperation with all our neighbours and opponents since we were having good character and very good discipline on and off the field.. There was a time the greatness of Candolim football team surrounded on all the three players of our family – Cheddo – Jose Marie - Anton and only their play can win the match for Candolim. Such magnificent players all the three brothers never played for Candolim nor will easily play in the future.
Eugeno Cardoso’s family is the greatest family in Candolim in Sports in general having produced one International Athlete, Steffi – Eugeno’s daughter, winning innumerable medals at national and international Meets whils his son Ricardo an all India soccer custodian playing for India in the Lusofonia tournament when it was held in Goa and Eugen Cardoso himself a gigantic goalkeeper of Goa representing Dempo Soccer team for almost a decade and winning most of the All India Tournaments. He was declared as the all time best goalkeeper of Dempo during the last 50 years.
When Candolim had such a fabulous past, why Candolim cannot produce a soccer team now that can create an impact ? Who is running the affairs of Candolim Club or soccer team now? Are they Candoicars or outsiders settled in Candolim and whoever they may be, what was their past in soccer and what they contributed to promote Candolim soccer in the past? Are they really contributing something or they are Titular heads of the Club? The ground gifted by Dr. Gustavo Monteiro for Panchayat is become like a fotress closed on all sides without free access for anyone to come at any convenient time and play and practice there. When it was arranged for Candolim boys it was not to make money making venture but now it looks different, the free flow of boys on the ground is restricted and nobody it looks knows who is handling the affairs of this ground. Why nobody from the village seems to take interest in this matter? Where are all the former stalwarts of Candolim soccer gone now? Who is running the Club and who got them elected and when? Is GFA still recognizes Candolim Club? Are Panchayat members involved in running the soccer show of Candolim soccer? If yes, on what basis? Are all those who are running the soccer activities know anything of soccer and secondly are they really Candoicars? It is my request to all “Nizache” Candoicar to come forward to revive soccer in Candolim and for Candoicars.
CONCLUDED.
A.Veronica Fernnandes..