It is with deep regret and chagrin I got the news of the death of the ex-Goan foot-baller George Candido Abreu popularly known as Candu Abreu. He was during his golden days when playing for Salgaocar Soprts club was one of the best defenders of Goa manning the half line. It was somewhere in 1958 at Mapusa Duler ground when I saw him playing for Salgaocars against the visiting Bombay Goans team consisting of some of the top Goan foot-ballers from Bombay, one of them was Olympian Neville D’Souza. Candu was given the task of marking tightly the Goan genius Neville D’Suza but in the beginning itself Neville D’Souza tough not on his peak form, dribbled the ball past to Candu Abreu and from outside the box released such a powerful left footer that Pompei under the Salgaocar’s bar had no chance to save. This was the only brilliance our Olympian Neville D’souza exhibited otherwise for rest of the game Candu Abreu in his normal self never again allowed Neville D’souza to move with the ball freely. Later on when somebody asked Neville, “how you were shadowed”, replied Neville saying ‘even in the Olympics I was not marked as tightly as by Candu Abreu.
Earlier I saw him at Nerul Foot-ball ground playing for his Village team Taligao in the inter-village tournament where he was shining like a gold on the foot-ball ground. During those days best of inter-village soccer in Bardez was played at Arpora and Nerul where again Candu Abreu showed his genius. In the aerial duels he would out beat any opponent with the advantage of his height and he possessed very good ball-control. His cool temparement was his greatest asset. When I started my career for Sesa Goa as a schoolboy, he was at his receding end but I played against him many times. It was just a thrill to play against him.
May his soul rest in peace.
A.Veronca Fernandes.