It is with deep regret and sorrow I write this piece on the news I got thru the obituary in Herald dated 26thinst. of the death of Peter Gomes from Calangute and who was not only an ace Tiatrist but more than that an ace footballer of yesteryears. During those good old days he developed his soccer skill in that soccer skillful school at Arpora and also in his village at Calangute that was known to produce some of the finest Goan footballers and Peter Gomes was one of them.
It was somewhere in 1958 first time I saw him playing at Calangute in a friendly festival match against the then mighty Salgaocar comprising 4 ace Pakle footballers. When they entered the field, Salgaocar players with their body language indicated that they will toy with their hosts but Peter Gomes under their bar diving from one end of the Pole to the other and in acrobatic style punching the ball over the bar, Calangutcar thwarted almost every attempt of their guests who were nervous till the last minute equalizer scored by one of their dynamic Paklo forwards.
Peter Gomes was like a one man team and then immediately Salgaocars recruited him. That was the dream team of Calangute comprising galaxy of extremely good players such as Eustaqio, Bhaskar, Joshe and Coutinho. He had unique distinction to shake hand with Premier Nehru who was the chief guest when Salgaocar played their first match for Durand Cup in Delhi in 1962.
Peter Gomes was also the best Tiatrist composing and singing very good songs, mainly the comedy. He was a member of Young Stars of Goa troupe. He had one more unique distinction to direct and stage "ZAGOR & TIATRO as one Show first time in the history, at Calangute near his house. As a footballer he travelled all over India and as a Tiatrist he travelled all over the Gulf. He represented Goa at Sanosh trophy many times.
In his death Goa lost a great footballer of whose type we may not easily get another and as a Tiatrist Konkani Stage lost a gigantic artiste. May his soul rest in peace.
A.Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim.
Tel:7507394349.