On 24th March 2007, when England plays Italy in the under 21 game of football, and later on 19th May 2007 when the finals of the Football Association Cup gets underway at the 90,000 capacity New Wembley stadium in England, constructed from scratch and now completed after over a two year delay (it ought to have been readied by June 2005 after the Old Stadium built in 1923 was knocked down to ground zero ) a few residents from Brent ie in and around the New Wembley stadium would have already recorded their firsts as honoured guests and also some of them become privileged firsts last Saturday 17th March, 2007 to test the settings before these events which could now attract huge crowds.
One such individual was an young teenaged lass Genevieve Fernandes of Goan parentage, born and brought up in UK a resident of Brent who indeed earned the distinction of being one of the lucky 50 young youth between the age of 11 to 16 years selected by draw of lots to take part in a short soccer coaching on the near lush turf (an unique feature of the Old Wembley Stadium unrivalled by any other). When this writer spoke to Ms Genevieve 16 to learn of her experience at this stadium she said she was thrilled to learn that she was the only Goan who had had this rare privilege and yeah -- she was awestruck by the magnificent stadium and also felt overwhelmed at this unique opportunity provided by the Management of the New Wembley Stadium to give the first honours to the residents of Brent, Middlesex. Genevieve, recollects that she had also had an earlier distinction of being the last Goan to be trained on the ground in football over five years ago when the stadium was finally declared closed for any further events and the old Wilmbley was brought down. Yes she recollects -- " I was much younger than and the thought of the old stadium being brought down made me feel remorse then -- not any longer" she said. It now remains to be seen how the New Wembley measures to the crowd expectations given the many setbacks in its construction years. GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES, BORDA, MARGAO, 403 602, GOA. (INDIA) +91 98221 58584 (24 HRS) [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________________ Yahoo! India Answers: Share what you know. Learn something new http://in.answers.yahoo.com/