Goan Olympians !

Goans and Football go together! It's true that presently there is a decline in the attendance for the ISL matches all over India compared to its inception. This decline is much more noticeable for the home matches of FC Goa at PJN stadium, Fatorda.

In any sport it’s important to have role models who can inspire the next generations to come. We all know how Kapil Dev and the team that won the Cricket World Cup 1983 are still revered and flooded with adulation. From then on the popularity of Cricket in India soared to greater heights and the BCCI capitalized on the same to make it commercially viable; unfortunately the same cannot be said about football. 

How many of us are aware that India won the Asian Games way back in 1951, reached the semi-finals of the summer Olympics in 1956 and then again won the Asian Games in 1962? Thanks to Boney Kapoor, Zee-Studio and others, a movie titled ‘Maidaan’ was released recently and was running in all the theatres in India. It was based on the life of coach Syed Abdul Rahim, the architect of the golden period of Indian football from 1952 to 1962.  

It’s a movie which every football lover must watch. I decided to watch the movie 'Maidaan' at Multiplex Z Square in Vasco, but to my misfortune the show was cancelled due to a lack of audience. It was then that I decided to go to Inox in Panaji and this time to my relief, there were around 20 spectators and it was worth the trouble, travelling from Vasco to Panaji.

Despite the fact that the movie is about coach S.A. Rahim and his immense contribution to the success of Indian Football teams from 1952 to 1962, it was a matter of great pride to see the presence of two Goan footballers in the Indian squad. They are none other than the late Neville D’Souza and the late Fortunato Franco.

Neville D’Souza was born in the village of Assagao in Bardez on the 3^rd of August 1932 but had to move to Bombay with his family for better prospects, as was the case of so many other Goans in those days. He died in Bombay, in March 1980, at the age of 47 years. He figured in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia and was the first Indian and Asian to score a hat-trick, beating Australia 4-2. India reached the semi- finals of the Melbourne Olympics but lost to Yugosalvia  4-1 and then lost to Bulgaria 3-0 in the bronze medal match thus standing 4^th in the 1956 Olympics.  

Fortunato Franco was born in the village of Colvale in Bardez in 1937 and  thereafter shifted to Bombay along with his family. He figured in the 1960 Rome Olympics and also the Jakarta Asian Games in 1962. At the Rome Olympics, India lost to Hungary 2-1, drew with France 1-1, and lost to Peru 3-1 in the final group stage. Despite the group stage ouster, India could still walk with their head held high for the splendid performance. Thereafter, India created history by winning the Asian Games 1962 at Jakarta beating South Korea 2-1 in the finals with  around one lakh spectators and very hostile conditions. After Franco's retirement from the Tata Company in Bombay, he lived in Colva, Goa where he died due to covid-19 in May 2021 at the age of 84 years.

‘Maidaan’ is a must see movie for all football enthusiasts and promoters. It’s important to   acknowledge the contribution of the past football heroes of our small state of Goa, and their legacy must be preserved for future generations, which will in turn inspire current footballers. It would be most appropriate to show this fantastic movie to all the young footballers in schools, footballers training at GFDC centres and those with clubs registered with GFA having a grassroots programme, in order to motivate and inspire them.

Some may say that the two Goan players have not contributed much in Goa but a Goan is a Goan, no matter where he lives or from where he contributes.

Let us take a bow to late Neville D Souza and late Fortunato Franco!