At the Goan Clubs, football no longer rules! BY INDIRA RODERICKS | Tuesday, June 13, 2006 11:51:30 IST It's cricket and tennis now, and the World Cup is just another event Ten years ago, the Goan Clubs in and around Dhobi Talao and Mazagaon were synonymous with football. Every year a tournament was held where each club played against the other and during major events (such as the World Cup), the members of each club thought of nothing else than to stay glued to the television rooting for their favourite team. But now, that is no longer the case.
Football no longer rules and the interests have moved to cricket and tennis. Even the tournaments are no longer held. Although the clubs do exist, membership has gone down drastically. Each club now has a mere 10 members and most of them opt for careers on cruise liners or cargo ships. You'd find just a handful of people at these clubs now (most of the boys are just passing through), with just a lone caretaker looking after the place. The biggest advantage that these clubs have is the space. All of them have been founded during the early part of the last century and they occupy huge, lofty rooms in the old buildings at Dhobi Talao and Mazagaon. Of course, there is nothing grand about the area they occupy. Common toilets and bathing areas, common kitchens, a common hall with a television and a huge altar (a rosary is recited every evening by the club members) filled with religious statues and icons. Notices about the rules and regulations about each club are pasted on the shabby walls together with information about the members. You won't find any beds either, just mattresses piled up in one corner, clothes hanging on a makeshift line and steel (or old wooden chests) trunks for each member to keep his belongings in. Most of the clubs could do with a fresh coat of paint or some renovation in the kitchen and bathing area. Each member pays around Rs 100 (at some clubs, it is even less) as monthly rent, and with an amount as paltry as this, it's not as easy as it seems. Club of Savantwadi, Dhobi Talao The name plate outside reads - The Nossa Sinnora De Milagres Club of Savantwadi, or in short, The Club of Savantwadi. Sitting on a plastic chair is Dennis D'Souza, an old member of the club who is waiting for his next call on a cargo ship. Two days earlier, his cousin Anthony D'Souza arrived from Goa in search of a job in the city. Dennis will tell you that 20 years ago, the club had 200 members, now there are just eight, of which six are employed and use the premises only for the night. During the day, it is just the two of them. "Even during the last World Cup, there were more members, but as the years go by, the numbers reduce. This year, I think it will be just be the two of us watching the game, but if I am called away for work, then I'll have to leave," said Dennis. Dennis admits that he no longer enjoys watching the game, while Anthony confessed it was cricket he was obsessed about. "But with the World Cup, I guess we will watch a few of the games," he said. Yet, despite the lack of enthusiasm they show, Brazil remains their favourite team. Club of Majorda, Dhobi Talao This is one of the larger clubs in the vicinity. They occupy an entire floor enough to accomodate a sizeable number of people. There were around 10 members here, but most of them were in transit, meaning they have only come in for a day or two. Savio Monterio would be leaving soon to join a cargo ship travelling to Germany. But the World Cup is not on his mind. "It's work that I think about now. I came from Goa just last week and despite travelling to Germany, the World Cup does not interest me. Brazil is my favourite team and I think they will win the World Cup. But I don't think I will watch the matches with great enthusiasm," he said. "A decade or two ago, we had around 100 members at the club, but now there are hardly any boys left," said Mario Fernandes another member. Like Savio, Mario too is awaiting his turn to board a liner and apart from hoping that Germany wins the cup, he has barely any interest in the event. "Football is not what it used to be. Cricket is now the sport, tennis too with the tournaments on." St. Lawrence Club of Arrossim, Mazagaon Three members, that's all. There used to be 150 members, but now no one wants to stay at the club. Rex D'Souza, one of the three members said, "Earlier Bombay was the main destination, but not any more. Now, if people need to travel, they do so from Goa itself. I am a big football fan and it's not just the World Cup, but the league matches that I enjoy watching as well. And it's always Real Madrid and Brazil. The three of us try and catch the games on television, if we are able to get home early that is." Previously it was not only football, but also the feast days that were celebrated with much enthusiasm. Sadly, that is not the case now. "There are eleven clubs in the area, but the number of members has gone down drastically. Still, I would say that for the majority, football still remains a favourite game and World Cup the best sporting event." Assumpta Club of Sarzora, Mazagaon Sidney Dias and Lenzil Almeida, two football enthusiasts and club members laze around waiting for the World Cup matches to begin. The club has a mere six members, but while these two are crazy about the game, the others are not. Still, as far as possible, the members make it a point to watch the games. "Usually the lights are out by 10, but during the World Cup, we stay awake and watch till the end. I am a big fan of Germany and since they are the hosts, I am hoping they win the World Cup," said Dias. Dias who plays football in his native Goa, is an Argentina fan and added that while the eagerness is not what it used to be, the interest is still there. "There are other sports that interest people and besides how many people play football here? In Goa, it is different, but for everybody else it is cricket," he said. http://www.cybernoon.com/DisplayArticle.asp?section=fromthepress&subsect ion=inbombay&xfile=June2006_inbombay_standard9929 ~(^^)~ Avelino _____________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org)