It is with deep grief and chagrin I write these lines to express my sorrow and to highlight the greatness of one of the greatest footballers of Goa, the late Visitacao Lobo who breathed his last on Saturday, the 27th inst. Visitacao Lobo whom we used to call as Lobo was my friend and colleague at Sesa Goa when we both joined Sesa Soccer Team together in 1966 when Sesa was still in the second division in its second year and desperately wanted to enter into the first division. For this reason Sesa management recruited some of the best players one of them was Visitacao Lobo in the forward line and me in the defense line. He was recruited by Sesa as a young man for their football team with a technical job while I was engaged by Sesa only to play football as I was schooling at Arpora and since I had to complete my SSC I turned down the job offer.
Visitacao Lobo was known to me when he was schooling at Escola Technica, Mapusa. As a footballer he joined first Saldanha of Mapusa in the second divison. During those days Saldanha was very popular for having its Institute for coaching students in Typing-Shorthand and Book Keeping and since its owner Mr. Saldanha was a great lover of football and himself being a good player for his team he ran the team in the name of Saldanha. As a young footballer Visitacao Lobo created a mark for him in this team and immediately he was recruited as a footballer by the then famed outfit from the first division, Benfica of Mapusa. During those days playing for Benfica means a great honour for any player from Bardez because it was one of the best teams in Goa inheriting all the best soccer qualities from best of Portuguese Pakle footballers since it was dominated by Pakles.
From Benfica a first divisioner, Visitacao Lobo because of job facility joined a second divisioner Sesa Goa and contributed along with others in Sesa’s migration into the first division scoring crucial goals in crucial encounters. Within a short time Visitacao Lobo when he was exposed in the first division or senior division in Sesa Jersey, he became the darling of the soccer fans. His one hat trick at Duler ground Mapusa against the then mighty Salgaocar with mighty Sinari under their bar created a sensation in Goa taking his fame to its zenith.
He was extremely good in aerial duels near the opponents’ goalmouth and some of the best goals he scored were thru the headers. In his right leg there was extra energetic power and while releasing his right footer he would fool not only the defender in front of him but also the keeper under the bar. He would look in one direction and shoot the ball in another direction. He had abundant stamina to survive on the field in grueling atmosphere not only for 90 minutes but also for another 90 minutes more. Though he was a right footer yet he was equally at ease on his left foot as well.
He was a decent player and would not hurt his opponent with rough tackles. I never saw him anytime anywhere receiving any Card of any colour from the match referee for any infringement. He was always cool not only on the field but even off the field. We both played together for Sesa in many tournaments inside and outside Goa and though I had to cut short my career prematurely due to chronic leg injury, I found he was adored everywhere by the fans with highest admiration, especially in Kerala. Many times we both shared the same room in the Hotel where we used to stay during our soccer tours and during our conversations I always found him to be a very decent and soft spoken thorough gentleman. Before the match he would concentrate silently alone for hours without getting disturbed to bring his mental level high like Brazilian captain Dr. Socrates in 1982 World Cup.
In Bardez, traditionally 4 villages are known to produce best of sportsmen and Parra is one of them, the other three are Candolim, Calangute and Siolim. Since Visitacao Lobo is from Parra and as disclosed by its local MLA Michael Lobo the Stadium under construction at Parra will be fittingly named after the late son of the soil Visitacao Lobo, I support MLA Michael Lobo in his decision. When this is done, this will be the second local stadium in Bardez to be named after its local hero, the first being Dr. Gustavo Monteiro Stadium in Candolim.
Visitacao Lobo according to my knowledge was the second Goan footballer to don the colours of India when he toured Soviet Russia along with Indian team in early seventies. The first Goan to don India's colours was Salgaocar’s defender Menino Figueredo from Carmona, in mid sixties. When Visitacao Lobo represented India he was playing for Salgaocar, Goa but within a year he was brought back to Sesa with heavy demand by the top management of Sesa Goa.
In his death, Goa lost a great footballer of whose type it is very difficult to get again. He was a jewel of a man. May his soul rest in peace and may the heavenly God give courage to his family members to bear this colossal loss.
Candolim, Goa.
Tel:7507394349.