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Convenor of Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) Dr Oscar Rebello has been nominated for CNN-IBN's Indian of the Year Award 2007 in public service category Vote for him at: http://www.cnnibnindianoftheyear.com/publicservice_voting_new.php --------------------------------------------------------------------------- January 11, 2008 DHL Kuwait disgrace in hurting Kuwait Goans<http://goa-kranti.blogspot.com/2008/01/dhl-kuwait-disgrace-in-hurting-kuwait.html> In 1979 under the leadership of United Goans Football Centre, Goans in particular and other Indians in general started their first ever competitive soccer tournament at Sour Ground, in Kuwait. After so many years of playing competitive soccer at Sour Ground, this year it is stopped there because some construction work is undergoing there. Hence, from this year our soccer activities are shifted to a place called Salmiya. During the football matches injuries are bound to happen and they actually happen. In 1980 ace Goan forward Cosme from Arpora, while playing for G.O.A. Maroons at Sour grounds was purposely injured by his opponent. Because of this injury, Cosme had to sleep in the Hospital for some time and then at home with total bedrest, his leg was plastered. In this position he remained out of work for about 2 months but fortunately for Cosme, his manager in the company where he was working was one of the committee members of G.O.A. Maroons Mr. Peter D'Souza (Bosh) whose contribution for the promotion of our soccer was enormous. His name should remain imprinted with golden letters in the history of Goans in Kuwait for providing many jobs for Goan footballers. Good that Cosme was working under Peter otherwise his services would be terminated and he would be out of the job. We are employed in Kuwait not because of our companies and no company is having its soccer team officially like what we have in Goa, e.g. Dempo, Salgaocars etc. Our soccer and playing foot-ball is purely a personal matter between the player and the team that the player is playing. Our employers have nothing to do with our foot-ball. All teams are not taking care of their players when they are injured. A few years back, while playing for Rising Stars, one of their star forwards was injured and could not even walk properly, he had to make use of crutches to walk. Secondly, good his immediate superiors were sympathetic for closing their eyes for this injury regarding his job. But, unfortunately, none of the Rising Stars Team management personnel came even for a minute to see their injured star at home and enquire about him. It is unfortunate that some teams make use of their players only to promote their teams and team personnel who are hungry for prominence because in Goa, in Bombay, in Mangalore and in other parts of India they never tasted prominence. Back at home in their States they were idiots and these idiots are ruling our affairs in Kuwait. For this reason, in Kuwait we don't get people of caliber to do things of caliber. On Friday, 11th of this month, while playing for Kuwait Goan Association in the 18the 18th NYC Rolling Trophy Football tournament organized by Navelim Youth Centre, one of the star players of KGA was injured by their opponents DHL. The injury was so severe that the injured player's one leg is totally become unfit to play further. He was immediately admitted to Hospital where an emergency operation was conducted to heal his injury. His bone is broken as per the firsthand information. This injured player was a star player in Goa representing Dempo Sports Club. He was a new comer to Kuwait having no very firm job. Because of his injury his all round situation is become precarious. Because of this injury he may be out of job for over 3 months. His employers are not responsible for this injury and hence his job position in danger. Who will support him now? Who will provide him with a new job? If his residence is finished or cancelled, who will help him? Will the DHL player responsible for the disaster of KGA player do something for the injured player? Will DHL top management come to the rescue of the inured player? It is a lesson for the Team Managements and for the players too. We are come here in Kuwait to work and earn our livelihood. Foot-ball is secondary. *According to one source, the KGA player was injured with the intention to finish him by one of their desperate, frustrated players whose earlier record was not very palatable. If this is the case then thorough investigation should be conducted and if necessary Police Case should be filed otherwise KGA management must inform the Hospital sources accordingly and Hospital may call the police for thorough investigation.* Our football field should not be converted into a battlefield to massacre innocent players. Here we are all come for our livelihood which we earn not thru playing foot-ball but by working separately. No body has got right to inure his opponent purposely. Injuring a player purposely is a crime and such professional fouls should be dealt with severity by the soccer management apex body. Our soccer in Kuwait is like a "Budkulleancho Khell". By playing our soccer we don't qualify for World Cup. Our soccer is not even recognized by the local authorities. We are playing only for our own pleasure. And when this is the case, why we should create an Indo-Pak type of war? What is the reward for such victories? If there is any truth in DHL player committing the above foul with an intention to finish his opponent, then KGA must complain to DHL management for allowing such players to represent their team and soil the good image of DHL. In this injury, the name of the player who played the foul play was not much known but the name of DHL is slurred more. The top management of DHL must investigate this case and take corrective steps and if necessary stop supporting the team in their name. Meantime, who will finance the medical treatment and other requirements of the injured player? Will DHL company help the injured player? Will DHL provide a suitable job for the injured player in their company? Will the guilty player and its team do something for the atonement of their sins? I have seen during my last so many years of involvement in our soccer that some people involved in our soccer are very cruel and rude; their only intention is to win the match by any means. There is too much of revenge and hatred going on in our soccer. This soccer of ours is non-entity outside our circle yet many of our people are fighting like cats and dogs. Meantime, the job, the residence permit and above all the health of the injured player of KGA are at stake. I understand that his financial position is not good and there is nobody here to look after him when he is discharged from the hospital. It took over three hours to finish his operation which was a major one. It looks not only his soccer future is come to an end but according to one source even his fate in Kuwait is come to an end. Poor boy, he came to Kuwait to make some money and fulfill his life's commitment. Finally his "Chintnam" became "Sopnam". Why and who is responsible for this disaster? Everybody says it is only because of DHL and its ruffians who come to play to deform opponent's good players. This is not good soccer but this is barbarity which must come to an end. Kuwait Indian Foot-ball Federation and all who are involved in the promotion of KIFF soccer must try to find a solution to this problem. This is not the time to say, oh, it is natural and normal to get injured. Yes, I agree to this but to injure a player purposely is not natural and not normal. Only mentally abnormal people will accept inflicting intentional injuries. The ruffians on the field and their godfathers and promoters off the field can show their dirty guts on during the soccer matches and for matters concerning soccer. But when we do anything for the cause of Kuwait these rascal hide themselves under the petticoats of their viwes or their mistresses. To support the cause of Kuwait non of the DHL personnel supported us thereby provong how anti-Kuwait they are. While concluding, I request people of good hearts to pray for the full recovery of the injured people who is in hospital. May God help him to recover from this injury and return to him to his normal former life. A. Veronica Fernandes, Kuwait Posted by KRANTI at 10:29 PM<http://goa-kranti.blogspot.com/2008/01/dhl-kuwait-disgrace-in-hurting-kuwait.html> 0 comments<http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=1667525929378592865&postID=4873262603898503972> <http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=1667525929378592865&postID=4873262603898503972> <http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1667525929378592865&postID=4873262603898503972> Links to this post<http://goa-kranti.blogspot.com/2008/01/dhl-kuwait-disgrace-in-hurting-kuwait.html#links>