Referring to the photograph in Herald of 03.10.21 of Churchill Alemao paying a visit to the then mighty Goan foot-baller Menino Figueredo to felicitate and to wish Menino Figueredo “A Happy Birthday”. Churchill Alemao visited him I think not only to felicitate and wish him a happy 85th birthday but to pay his well deserved respect. Such visits, felicitations and respects for such retired players are rarity nowadays but with Churchill Alemao anything is possible. His heart melts easily when he sees such persons like Menino Figueredo who contributed so much for the promotion and development of Goan soccer and about which he had a mastery by playing as one of the best India has ever produced and as the best Goa too has ever produced. To snatch the ball from his opponents’ feet however much magnetized it to his feet but like a Lion Menino Figueredo would pounce on any of the best foot-ballers mainly the forwards either the Goan, Indian or Portuguese during the colonial regime when Goa produced the glorious footballers in Goa because Goan players then playing with the top oppositon from the Portuguese. Not only that, besides Goans of that era had great opportunities to play, learn and improve their own game by learning from the best of Portuguese players who were the part of Portuguese Military and Police force stationed in Goa.
And let it be known to everyone that during the last few years of Portuguese rule in Goa, it was so beneficial and prosperous to Goa that Portuguese government of Dr. Antonio Oliveira Salazar impressed upon his administration in Goa to create best of opportunities to Goans not only in the economic field but also in Sports and other fields stressing more on soccer. To produce the required results he even appointed a charismatic and very people meaning Goans, friendly Governador Vassalo e Silva. The golden era had just dawned on Goa and if it was not on one fine Night of 18th December if Goa was not robbed by its own neighbour who was barking in the name of Non-Violence finally itself used violence to grab Goa in the name of fake Liberation. Menino learning from the Portuguese the best of soccer finally became the best Goan defender where he was playing as a right back and playing just like the Argentinian captain of 1978 World Cup winning squad, Daniel Pasarrela. By respecting Menino Figueredo in this manner, Churchill Alemao proved that there is also respect for “Moddlolo Khuris” by not neglecting the aged Menino Figueredo. My admiration goes to Churchill Alemao for indicating his humane characteristic and I request him to create some avenues to aid some of those senior sportsmen facing financial deficiencies.
I have special affection for Menino Figueredo for having played with him as his opponent at the very young age when I was as a St. Joseph’s High School Arpora, Student recruited by Sesa Goa for their team somewhere in 1966 when Menino shifted his original position from right back to Centre Half where he lost his earlier charm as right back and where he was extremely good by being equally good in both his legs and in the aerial duels he was too good. His long inning for Salgaocars moulded him into a finest player of whose type Goa is yet to produce. His 1 minute absence on the field would create an adverse effect on their team as it happened In 1959 at Police Ground in Panjim, Salgaocars were leading by 2-0 goals, However, in the second half due to injury Menino was substituted creating a void in their defense making their opponents not only to equalise both the goals but also in the dying seconds to score the match winner.
Taking this opportunity, I wish Menino Figueredo thouh belatedly a very happy 85thbirthday and good health.
A.Veronica Fernandes.