Manuel at my place.
The competitive foot-ball for Goans and for other Indians was first time started in Kuwait in 1979 by the Goan Club, United Goans Foot-ball Center popularly known as UG and it was headed by once an ace Goan player from Siolim, Bardez, Antonio Lawrence Fernandes. With the exception of final, all other matches were played at Sour Grounds, 1 & 2 all in the afternoons. Lot of Goans and others participated in this soccer among whom some are still in Kuwait from the time of the inception of this tournament and till now they are actively taking part in this soccer extravaganza. One such Goan is none other than Manuel D’Costa from St. Cruz, Ilhas, Goa who is still working in Kuwait and living with his family peacefully. However, till now he has not detached himself from this soccer and currently he is the chief of newly formed Goan Foot-ball Association which caters to the needs of Goan boys. When he first started in 1979, he was the member of G.O.A. B team, later on he joined other clubs but for the current Association he is firm since he is doing lot of hard work to raise the level of his team.
He is very much supported in this association by some of his colleagues and his family too and he is grateful to them for their support. Since currently our soccer is gone into the hands of non-Goans in all respects, yet Manuel is maintaining Goan identity thru this Association and he feels happy that many Goans are supporting him for keeping the banner of Goa and Goans high.
Since he is in Goa now, a few days back he paid me a visit at Caandolim where we discussed so many things regarding our past foot-ball activities, his support for Goan causes and his plans for Goa when he retires from Kuwait. I was highly pleased to welcome him at my place where he spent his time with me. He is the same Manuel whom I last saw in Kuwait 6 years back, a simple and humble Goan with all the Goan attributes.
A.Veronica Fernandes.