Reading the Obituary column of Herald dated 11.08.19, I was hurt to see the photograph of one well-kown ex-Kuwait Goan, the late Antonio Lawrence Fernandes who died in Siolim, Bardez, on 11.08.19 and interred on the next day at 4.00 pm, at Siolim Soddiem Church Cemetery where the Church was so packed with his friends and relatives and also his well wishers that there was no room available even to stand, in fact it was neither in the Church nor in the Cemetery. Rarely I witnessed such an enormous attendance of any Kuwait returnee. This proves his popularity in his locality and elsewhere too because I saw people attending his funeral coming from all over Goa.
He was the once renowned Goan footballer, who in the late fifties donned the colours of Goa’s mighty outfit “LUBE”. Because of his attractive soccer skill he was selected to play for Bardez XI in the stiff competition from Portuguese “Pakles & Khapris” towards the end of fifties. He mastered the beautiful art of playing beautiful soccer at St. Joseph’s High School, Arpora which was then like the renown soccer Academy of Goa producing talented players with whom he blossomed into a perfect footballer. During those days Antonio Lawrence maintained a very good personal relationship with all his team mates. His best colleague players on the field were all from Candolim playing along with him for Arpora School namely the Machado Bros. - the defender Andrew and the ace dribbler and forward Babazinho and the best medio playing as centre half who was excellent in the aerial duels, Jose Marie, all of them used to play havoc with their opponents.
Then he migrated to Kuwait where he got opportunity to play “A” grade soccer along with the top British and other European footballers at Ahmadi in the KOC Oil Sector where he was employed. Because of his soccer prowess he acquired name and fame for him leading him to wield vast influence in the community.
His main achievement in Kuwait as the president of the United Goans Football Center was to initiate and start the competitive soccer tournament for the first time in the history not only of Goans but also of Indians too, at Sour Grounds, Kuwait City. No doubt he was immensely helped in this very tough activity by his colleagues Tony Gonsalves from Divar, Joe F. X. Desouza from Assagao, Diogo Gomes from Bastora and many others because in a country like Kuwait where as a foreigner from Asia you encounter lot of hurdles and discriminations. Moreover there was no government support directly because for Kuwaitis, Indians playing soccer means a big joke. However, it was thru this tournament initiated by UGFC under the leadership of the late Antonio Lawrenco Fernandes that gave an indication not only to the Kuwaitis but also to other nationalities including the FIFA that for Goans from India soccer is the staple diet. By organising this soccer he and his colleague helped the Goans to build a very good friendly relationship among themselves and excellent opportunities for many of our young boys to get employment because of their prowess in soccer.
I think the local stalwarts in his locality and also in Goa who are on the job of promoting soccer they should honour him even if it is too late, let this be done posthumously. Thru soccer he helped to internationalise not only the soccer image of Goa and Goans but otherwise too. It is a pity that so many of our Goans while working in the foreign countries create wonderful activities which are not only ignored in Goa but also neglected. It is a pity even our Church leaders after receiving so much of help from Goans abroad for their activities forget them. There is no appreciation in Goa for the good work that our Goans perform in the foreign countries. In his homily during the funeral Mass the local priest lauded the good work Antonio Lawrence did even for his Church but if something concrete has been done in his honour that would give some satisfaction for him.
A.Veronica Fernandes.