Panaji:
For all of Goa’s talent and self-confessed love for the beautiful game, the women have won the National Football Championship just once. It was on November 6, 1977 when Goa slayed Bengal 3-0 at the Gymkhana ground in the city, sparking frenzied celebrations, not just at the ground but across the state.
After all, this was the first time that Goa had won the National title. That women had achieved the honour putting it across archrivals Bengal in the final made it extra special.
“I have been a footballer myself so I know what it means to be part of a winning team. Imagine winning the Nationals in front of your home crowd, that too defeating Goa’s greatest football rivals,” said Avertano Furtado, former goalkeeper and fisheries minister.
Furtado is president of the Association for the Wellbeing of Elder Sportspersons (AWES) and was speaking during the felicitation of the historic women’s football squad that came together for the first time after 40 years. A total of 19 players turned up for the felicitation at the St Lawrence Church hall in Agassaim, while only three – all of whom are abroad – missed the function, held in partnership with Agassaim Youth Club.
“I remember that match like yesterday. We played our hearts out. On this day, we are missing coach (Joao de Mello) and captain Rekha (Karapurkar), both of whom are no longer with us. They were instrumental in Goa’s triumph,” said vice-captain Soccorinha Pereira, who finished as the top-scorer in the tournament with 19 goals including a hat-trick of hat-tricks.
A minute’s silence was observed in memory of the coach and captain, and when successive speakers recalled Rekha’s contribution, son Gautam was lost for words.
“This is by far the biggest tribute for my mother. This is the best thing that I’ve ever seen,” said Gautam. The Late Joao de Mello was represented by his widow Fatima.
Just about nobody from that winning team wanted to miss the reunion. Rajani Simepurushkar, now based in Bahrain, stunned her former teammates by showing up at the venue, quite unexpectedly. Except for the organisers, nobody had a clue that she had booked her tickets for Goa. The little delay in her arrival, alongside Yolanda de Sousa, only added to the intrigue.
There was another surprise; until this morning even the organisers had no clue that goalkeeper Philomena D’Souza had travelled from Mumbai to Goa. Word had go to her that the 1977 winning squad were meeting for the first time and she didn’t want to be left out. How would those abroad – Helen Fernandes, Clementina Fernandes and Caetana Barbosa – feel?
“We were all like long lost friends. Some of us were unrecognisable from the days when we last met. This was a lovely evening and one to remember for ages,” said Juliana Gurjao.
On the dais, former chief minister and Poriem MLA Pratapsingh Rane helped refresh everyone’s memories. “I remember being in the stands and cheering for the team. It was a memorable match. I don’t think any of those who were present there would forget that evening,” said Rane, who is set to clock 50 consecutive years as an elected representative.
His wife, Vijayadevi Rane, was the president of the Goa Women’s Football Association when Goa secured that historic evening and her memory too was as fresh as daisy.
“We started our football activities with just a few people but we were helped by these wonderful players. These were spirited girls. We had nothing but still achieved the biggest accolade,” said Vijayadevi.
The chief guest for the felicitation was town and country planning minister Vijai Sardesai. He was the first to arrive among the guests and sat patiently for close to an hour before everyone, including the players, arrived.
“It is our duty to celebrate such triumphs. Such triumphs are rare and for me these players are our real heroes,” said Sardesai.
Forty years after that famous victory in Panaji, the celebrations continue.
Present in person were 19 players who were part of the historic 23-member squad. These players included Rajani Simepurushkar, Soccorinha Pereira, Yolanda de Sousa, Juliana Gurjao, Esperanca Almeida, Perpetua Fernandes (Sr), Arabela Coutinho, Sylvia D’Souza, Filomena Fernandes, Anita Fernandes, Petolina Pereira, Emma Fernandes, Ritinha Pereira, Susan D’Souza, Fatima Rodrigues, Perpetua Fernandes (Jr), Filomena D’Souza, Agnes Gomes and Elma D’Cunha
After all, this was the first time that Goa had won the National title. That women had achieved the honour putting it across archrivals Bengal in the final made it extra special.
“I have been a footballer myself so I know what it means to be part of a winning team. Imagine winning the Nationals in front of your home crowd, that too defeating Goa’s greatest football rivals,” said Avertano Furtado, former goalkeeper and fisheries minister.
Furtado is president of the Association for the Wellbeing of Elder Sportspersons (AWES) and was speaking during the felicitation of the historic women’s football squad that came together for the first time after 40 years. A total of 19 players turned up for the felicitation at the St Lawrence Church hall in Agassaim, while only three – all of whom are abroad – missed the function, held in partnership with Agassaim Youth Club.
“I remember that match like yesterday. We played our hearts out. On this day, we are missing coach (Joao de Mello) and captain Rekha (Karapurkar), both of whom are no longer with us. They were instrumental in Goa’s triumph,” said vice-captain Soccorinha Pereira, who finished as the top-scorer in the tournament with 19 goals including a hat-trick of hat-tricks.
A minute’s silence was observed in memory of the coach and captain, and when successive speakers recalled Rekha’s contribution, son Gautam was lost for words.
“This is by far the biggest tribute for my mother. This is the best thing that I’ve ever seen,” said Gautam. The Late Joao de Mello was represented by his widow Fatima.
Just about nobody from that winning team wanted to miss the reunion. Rajani Simepurushkar, now based in Bahrain, stunned her former teammates by showing up at the venue, quite unexpectedly. Except for the organisers, nobody had a clue that she had booked her tickets for Goa. The little delay in her arrival, alongside Yolanda de Sousa, only added to the intrigue.
There was another surprise; until this morning even the organisers had no clue that goalkeeper Philomena D’Souza had travelled from Mumbai to Goa. Word had go to her that the 1977 winning squad were meeting for the first time and she didn’t want to be left out. How would those abroad – Helen Fernandes, Clementina Fernandes and Caetana Barbosa – feel?
“We were all like long lost friends. Some of us were unrecognisable from the days when we last met. This was a lovely evening and one to remember for ages,” said Juliana Gurjao.
On the dais, former chief minister and Poriem MLA Pratapsingh Rane helped refresh everyone’s memories. “I remember being in the stands and cheering for the team. It was a memorable match. I don’t think any of those who were present there would forget that evening,” said Rane, who is set to clock 50 consecutive years as an elected representative.
His wife, Vijayadevi Rane, was the president of the Goa Women’s Football Association when Goa secured that historic evening and her memory too was as fresh as daisy.
“We started our football activities with just a few people but we were helped by these wonderful players. These were spirited girls. We had nothing but still achieved the biggest accolade,” said Vijayadevi.
The chief guest for the felicitation was town and country planning minister Vijai Sardesai. He was the first to arrive among the guests and sat patiently for close to an hour before everyone, including the players, arrived.
“It is our duty to celebrate such triumphs. Such triumphs are rare and for me these players are our real heroes,” said Sardesai.
Forty years after that famous victory in Panaji, the celebrations continue.
Present in person were 19 players who were part of the historic 23-member squad. These players included Rajani Simepurushkar, Soccorinha Pereira, Yolanda de Sousa, Juliana Gurjao, Esperanca Almeida, Perpetua Fernandes (Sr), Arabela Coutinho, Sylvia D’Souza, Filomena Fernandes, Anita Fernandes, Petolina Pereira, Emma Fernandes, Ritinha Pereira, Susan D’Souza, Fatima Rodrigues, Perpetua Fernandes (Jr), Filomena D’Souza, Agnes Gomes and Elma D’Cunha
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