This is in reference to the news in the local Press 2 days back showing Minister Michael Lobo indicating his pompousness of inaugurating in his Calangute Constituency the Statue of the current World renown Portuguese foot-baller Christiano Ronaldo.
No doubt, it was a nice gesture to erect this Statue of the World renowned foot-baller Ronaldo so that our young footballers get some inspiration from Ronaldo and emulate his feat thereby creating innumerable Ronaldos in Goa. This will never happen in India in general and in Goa in particular where the tin pot politicians involving in the local politics also shamelessly involve in organizing soccer activities. In Goa politics is the bread and butter of politicians and thru which they accumulate illicit wealth and innumerable Concubines and still moving in society shamelessly as if they are saintly pople,
However, I feel it would be much better instead of Ronaldo’s Monument, Eusebio’s Monument was erected since Eusebio was far better foot-baller than Ronaldo. This I can say with concrete evidence that following the final blow by the match umpire of the qualifying encounter between Portugal and Brazil in the 1966 World Cup where Brazil following their defeat from Eusebio’s Portugal, while Pele exchanging his Jersey with Eusebio remarked saying “now you are the Pele” – the best ever footballer of this planet.
Instead of a foreigner’s Monument why not the Monument of our own local Calangutcar Goan, highly talented Bruno Coutinho’s statue was erected for our future generations to know that such a class of footballer was there in Calangute, Goa, to emulate him. Or still better it would be if the statue of another the then renown foot-baller from Calangute - Naikavaddo, Eustacio by name, playing for the then mighty Salgaocars. Even after so many years of his retirement and death not only Calangute but even India failed to produce such magnificent Corner Kicks exponent that will go straight into the opponents goal thereby fooling some of the best keepers even during the colonial rule. Or even any other great Goan footballer of yesteryears. Would not fit this honour to the greatest footballer of Goa from Assagao Bardez Goa, Neville D’Souza?
The other news is that of Michael Lobo’s anger on the leadership of BJP for ignoring him. This is the prize he is getting from the BJP for helping BJP to form the government, as informed, following the last election, in a rude manner by depriving the right party to form the government. He is after his wife to brighten her chances to contest the election in Siolim but I don’t know on what basis he is pushing his wife in Siolim from Parra and what her plus points that merit her candidature in Siolim. Instead, it would be better if he withdraws in her favour in Calangute. Otherwise, while both husband and wife keep themselves busy in their campaign they may both be the losers as people are expecting.
A.Veronica Fernandes.