[Goanet] Calangute-kar Arjuna award winner, Bruno arrives from Delhi,
Report in The Navhind Times, Aug 31, 2002. Bruno accorded hero's welcome By RAMDAS VOLVOIKAR PANAJI, Aug 30: Thousands of fans at the Dabolim airport and countless others throughout the state celebrated footballer Bruno Coutinho's return with the prestigious Arjuna award with a hero's welcome today. Bruno, who arrived by a Sahara Airlines flight at 3 p.m., was received by several officials of Sports Authority of Goa (SAG), Vasco Club, sports administrators and a huge gathering of fans which included a number of school children. The sports secretary, Mr R Raghuraman, the acting sports director, Mr V M Prabhudessai, Dr Susana de Souza, director of youth affairs, Vasco Club's Mr Vinod Parkot, Mr Noel Lima Leitao, Mr Savio Messais, coach Savio Madeira, Salgaocar's Henry Brito, SAG's Mr Tari, Mr Naik, Ms Juliana Colaco were among those who offered garlands and bouquets. Bruno was later led in a motorcade from the airport to Vasco Club House where the celebrations culminated with Bruno addressing the media. The Goan star will be felicitated at the hands of the Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Parrikar, on September 1 at a function organised by Vasco Sports Club at Shree Vidyadhiraj Bhavan, Vasco at 5 p.m. Meanwhile, the Goan star's selection for Arjuna award has infused new life in the state soccer. The game and Bruno have become a talking point again. Everyone is now interested in how Bruno will perform in his maiden stint with Vasco and the Arjuna awardee was quick to send an ominous warning to his rivals that he was now raring to go. There are no plans of an early retirement as the Arjuna award is a big boost for me. I want to tell my club, my fans that I still have it in me to go on for two to three years before hanging my boots, emphasised Bruno while speaking to The Navhind Times. However, his rivals can heave a sigh of relief for a while as Bruno will undergo a minor operation on the tendon on his left leg after he sustained an injury during an angling expedition, another sport which the Goan star enjoys a lot. The operation, according to Bruno, will rule him out of action for another four to five weeks. Following are the excerpts of the interview. Q. How did you feel when you received the award from the President, Mr A P J Abdul Kalam? A: I have no words to express my joy on receiving the award from the President. It's almost a dream come true and this feeling I am going to enjoy throughout the whole of my life. Q. Were there any words of encouragement from the President? A: Definitely. The President congratulated me and said, Bruno keep up the good work, you have done India proud. This 11 words are now eked in my memory and will serve as a morale booster for me. Q. We heard that you were practicing your steps before the awards function. Is it true? A: To be honest, yes. I practiced my steps for two days. However, there were still butterflies in my stomach when my name was called and I walked to receive my award. Q. Any special moment after receiving the award.? A: I had many moments to savour on my return flight to Goa. With my picture of receiving the Arjuna from the President appearing in every newspaper, the passengers in the Sahara flight became aware that they had an Arjuna awardee among them. It was good to see almost everyone congratulating even though I was a complete stranger to them. It almost brought tears to my eyes. Q. The fans in Goa want to know when you will don the Vasco jersey A: I know my club and fans are waiting anxiously for my return. Unfortunately, I will be undergoing a minor operation on my tendon of my left leg. I have spoken to Dr Bandekar of Goa Medical College and he feels I might not be able to play for four to five weeks. I want to tell my fans that as soon as the injury heels, I will be back on the field as I always relish a challenge. Q. Looking at the game, what should be done for putting football in the proper perspective, specially at the Asian level? A: Fortunately now the All India Football Federation is run by people who genuinely want the game to develop in the country. The AIFF has been organising foreign tours, conducting the National Football League, bringing in foreign coaches and this will definitely bring in the desired results in the long run. However, besides these, our main focus should be on the grassroot level wherein the juniors are picked up and given the necessary backing. Q. Do you think we need more academies to groom footballers in India? A. There is no point in just having academies. There should be dedicated coaches attached to them. I myself is associated with Assagao Anjuna Football Academy and I think despite the small budget it is doing a good job which is basically due to dedicated efforts from the coaches. The academies should also get corporate backing to avoid problem of finance which is very crucial in running of an academy. Q. Any regrets? A. No, not at all. I enjoyed whatever I did and whatever matches I
[Goanet] Bruno joins Vasco
(Calangute-kar) Bruno joins Vasco (New report in the Herald July 3)...an excerpt. The biggest and hottest news of this seasons (football) transfers, is Goa's icon Bruno Coutinho parting from his long time club Salgaocar Sport Club and moving to the people's club Vasco Sports Club. Bruno will this season be seen sporting the black and white colours and not the green he has been with for the last decade or so. The Salgaocar Sports Club striker surprised many when he bid adieu to Salgaocar and joined hands with Vasco, ending his decade long honeymoon with the green and white brigade. The former international captain completed the transfer formalities, a couple of days after several attempts to convince Salgaocar officials to renew his contract failed. ''There was nothing else I could do. Salgaoncar said they did not want my services while I know that I can play good football for at least another two seasons. I am out to prove everyone wrong,'' was Bruno's initial reaction when speaking to Herald. Though the transfer formalities have been completed, there could still be wrangles between the two Vasco based clubs over Bruno's transfer fee. At the time of filing this report, no decision on Bruno's transfer fee was arrived at. ''We hope to make the best use of his experience. With Bruno's inclusion, we can only get better,'' Vasco Sports Club coach, Derrick Pereira felt. When contacted, Salgaocar Sports Club coach, Savio Madeira, said the club will miss the talismanic striker but hoped the new recruits would do thier bit to fill the void. ''Bruno's departure is definitely a loss to the team. he has tons of experience and obviously there is no substitute for experience,'' Madeira told Herald. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
[Goanet] 10 Questions Calangute MLA, Agnelo Fernandes
[Earlier reproduced on CalanguteNet. To join, send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] ] 10 questions to Calangute MLA, Mr Agnelo Fernandes The Navhind Times July 3, 2002 By Joaquim Fernandes 1. Do you believe that Goa's development has been even? Not at all! For example, my constituency (Calangute) is the hub of tourism activity in Goa and earns very high revenue for the government, but we have not got the development in proportion to our contribution. Many of our roads are full of potholes and have not been touched in years. Regarding electricity, besides the perennial problems of erratic supply and low voltage, the wires are hanging at dangerously low heights. Also the wires are very old and keep snapping at many places. Likewise, the problem of water shortage is yet to be resolved. Similarly, I feel that constituencies like Pernem and Siolim have hardly seen any development. 2. What are your top priorities for the development of your constituency? Because Calangute constituency is an international tourist destination, all the above facilities are a must. So my priority is on developing the infrastructure; roads, water, electricity, drainage, sewarage. My stand on the River Princess is well known. This ecological danger has to be removed on top priority; or else there is no need for any of the other development works. I have filed a case in the High court asking it to give directions to the government to strengthen the ship so that it does not break up during the monsoons and cause an ecological disaster. Also to tow away the ship at the earliest. I have met the Tourism Minister, Mr Mickey Pacheco, who has assured me that he will never allow the ship to be cut up at Candolim beach. Earlier I had met the Chief Minister, Mr Parrikar, and on his request had forwarded to him proposals from two companies, Madgavkar Salvage and Titan Maritime Industries. Besides, a Singapore company had offered the government Rs 1 crore to take away the ship. But the matter is being passed to and fro between the Tourism Director and the Tourism Minister for the last one year. Sewarage is another important thing we need to look at. According to WHO standards, not a single well in the constituency now has potable water. The sewage has percolated into the ground acquifiers and polluted the wells. We need to have a proper sewarage network and a sewarage plant at least for the beach belt to cater to the hotels initially. Or else an epidemic-like situation may result. Regarding the other problem of garbage, a scientific garbage processing plant is planned on the Saligao plateau and the land acquisition process is underway. 3. Are you giving priority to fight corruption? How can corruption be fought? As an opposition MLA, my job is to fight corruption and high-handedness. But corruption is really a two-way process and can exist only if people encourage it. If people stick to the rules, there is no need to pay bribes. Even at the Panchayat level, all files are time bound. If the Panchayat does not co-operate, one can go to the Block Development Officer. People resort to paying bribes mainly if they are pursuing illegalities. Otherwise, people can seek help from redressal bodies like consumer forums etc. 4. Do you subscribe to the view that the MLA cannot develop his constituency without being a minister? No, I do not. You need not be a minister to develop your constituency. Issues can be raised in the House and assurances taken. But there is no doubt that more things can be done if you are in the ruling party. 5. What issues will you raise in the assembly? All the issues pertaining to of my constituency; the development of Calangute constituency. 6. Do you think that the last election saw a blatant use of money and muscle power? (What mechanism should be used to curb this practice?) The use of money and muscle power was very much evident. The police were also helping the ruling group. My opponent indulged in malpractices concerning voter identity cards. There was also distribution of money and an attempt to divide voters along communal lines. I lodged proper complaints with the authorities but in those days everyone was busy and no one looked into the matter. I am writing to the Election Commission of India to tell them all the malpractices that I have witnessed in my personal experience. The Election Commission is the proper body to curb these malpractices. 7. What factors led to your success and the defeat of your opponent? This is my third term as Sarpanch of Candolim and people have seen my good performance. Likewise, my popularity and friendship with the Sarpanches of other villages in my constituency contributed to my success. My opponent lost because of his track record of defections and non-development of the constituency. 8. Do you think that your party lost some seats because it nominated defectors? How do you think defections can be checked? Yes. I think we did lose some
[Goanet] Calangute news - Bruno weds Nina
Calangute soccer hero Bruno weds Nina * Joaquim Fernandes Soccer fans in the Europe are probably conversant with the phrase, 'Bend it like Bechkam'. We in Goa are more familiar with 'Blast it like Bruno.' Well, Bruno Coutinho from Umtavaddo, Calangute, the star forward of Goa's Salgoacar Sports Club and an Indian soccer icon for more then a decade finally tied the knot with long-time sweetheart, Nina Dias, from Mazalvaddo, Anjuna, on April 21. The nuptial mass was held at 5.45 p.m. at the St Alex Church, Calangute and celebrated by 'padr vigar' Fr Luciano Fernandes. The reception was held at the Severina Gardens, Mapusa. Bruno refused to have the traditional toast raising ceremony. He says everyone knows him and hardly anyone knows his bride.So while the toast master praises him to hight heavens, his bride, getting hardly any mention, will feel marginalised. So thoughtful of Bruno. The MC was Jerry Pinto from the Taj Hotels and The Big Country Band had the crowd grooving with some scintillating music. I met Bruno at his plush new bungalow at Umtavaddo, Calangute today morning. (May 4). Sipping the chilled soft drink he offered me in his gleaming sitting room I ask him the old question. So how is married life treating you? He gives me the gimlet eye, smiles and ''By the grace of God, everything is fine. I've had a busy season and did not even get time to distribute the wedding invitation cards properly. I am relaxing now.'' For the record, Bruno started his proffesional career with Dempo Engineering in 1987- 1988. He joined Salgaocar Sports Club in 1989 and has been the club's prolific scorer since then except for 1year (1991) which he played for Dempo Sports Club. He captained the India soccer team over a period of time. 1997 he captained the pre-Olympic team in the Nehru Gold Cup. Under his captaincy, India won 2 trophies; SAF Games, Chennai (1995) and SAF Coca Cola Cup, Goa (1999). Can he tell us some high points of his career? At the National leval, it was winning the Federation Cup for Salgaocar by beating East Bengal 2-1 in Calcutta. Bruno scored both goals. But what is his Golden moment? He has 2. First, India winning the Gold medal after 8-9 years in Chennai.Second, meeting Nina! Naturally! Here's wishing the newly married couple, a long and happy married life. Cheers! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet === For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
