23 minute read
Sports
Sports | Keenan Almeida For the Love of the Game
The footballer highlights his journey from playing on the school field, to now playing for Churchill Brothers
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By Sybil Rodrigues
Keenan Almeida is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a right back in I-League for Churchill Brothers FC Goa. He was born and brought up in a small ward named Murida, in the village of Cuncolim. His father was a sailor and mother, a school teacher. A younger sister completes his family. “Like any other Goan kid, most of my childhood was spent with my village friends, playing all kinds of sports and getting into mischievous situations that all children get into.”
Keenan completed his schooling from Assumpta Convent High School, Sarzora and higher secondary from RM Salgaocar Higher Secondary School (RMS), Margao. He then went on to graduate in Cost Accounting from Shree Damodar College of Commerce and Economics, Margao.
Keenan speaks on what inspired him to get into the world of sports and most importantly, football. “As a kid I have always enjoyed playing any sport with my friends. Be it football, cricket or volleyball. When in school, I represented my school at football, handball, volleyball, kabaddi and athletics. I represented Goa at the school nationals for football, handball, volleyball, and kabaddi”. Not many people know that Keenan has been part of the nationals at all these sports other than football.
Keenan chose football as he enjoyed playing the game and loved it, as compared to other sports. “I got a lot of praise at school level for being pretty decent at the game. On receiving such encouragement I felt that I could do well on the bigger field as well. From then on, I started my journey to achieve greater heights and chose football as my career”.
Keenan reminisces about the early years in the game. “While playing in the village or even to an extent in school, it was more fun oriented. At that age, we were not well trained and
Keenan Almeida
played for the pleasure of the game. But later, as I began training and playing at the under 16 level, it started getting more serious. The understanding and knowledge of the game also started developing in my mind and I had to face a lot of competition. So overall from school level to the next level, things started getting more significant and professional. At the age of 17, when I signed my first contract with a professional senior team, Salgaocar FC, things changed for the better, as I began getting training which was
more professional and skilled!! It was my first step in the professional world of football.”
He then goes on to elaborate about his journey from playing for Sporting Clube de Goa, to now playing for Churchill Brothers. “I started off my professional career with Salgaocar FC. We won the I-league and Federation cup in my three years at the Club.”
Later Keenan moved to Sporting Clube de Goa and considers it as one of the best decisions that he has ever made. “It was when playing for Sporting Clube de Goa I got my first call to join the national team to represent India in the under 23 team, at the Asian Games held in South Korea. That was something really big for me.”
After Keenan’s contract ended with Sporting Clube de Goa, he moved into the ISL with FC Goa, where he spent the next two years, being part of the runners-up squad in his very first season with the team.
“From FC Goa, I moved to Chennaiyin FC in the ISL where I won the ISL in my very first year with the team! Post that, I moved on to Pune City FC for two years.” But unfortunately, Keenan couldn’t represent the team at competition level as he had suffered knee injuries that put him out of action for 2 seasons.
“Finally, after recovering from two knee surgeries, I joined Churchill brothers FC. We missed out on being champions in the I-league on a mere goal difference, as the points were tied at the top of the table. It would be a perfect comeback for me if we managed to win the title. But having said that; I am glad I could return back to playing football after a two year gap.” Keenan is grateful to Churchill Alemão and Valanka Alemão for putting their faith in him.
Keenan had to sit out for two seasons due to a bad injury, which, for any player, is a great disappointment. “In a span of 1 year I had to undergo two knee surgeries. I had to undergo around 18 months of rehab which hit me really badly. I was devastated that I was unable to play. But the love for the game didn’t let me quit. I kept pushing myself day in and day out. It was physically challenging as well as mentally exhausting… but in the end if you want it you have to work for it.” He kept on chanting this mantra in his head every day and got back on the field. “Finally when I got back to playing, it was the most satisfying feeling after those 2 years of real struggle! God is great,” he exclaims.
As an athlete, challenges and roadblocks are a part and parcel of one’s career, Keenan says. “It is upto each one of us how we look at different hurdles and how we overcome them. There are times when you don’t get much play time. There are times you can’t play because you are injured. There are times when you don’t have a club. There are different types of problems that arise. But trust me; every problem has a solution provided that you look at the challenge with a positive mindset. Once you overcome any such obstacles, it only makes you stronger and braver.”
Apart from his obvious love for football, Keenan loves gardening and gives full credit to his wife, Liza, who has helped him develop it as a hobby, given that they both enjoy pottering around in the garden together.
“Besides gardening, I love going to different waterfalls and trekking. A bit of adventure in the wild, is something that exhilarates me. The thrill of being adventurous is something that satisfies my appetite and I love to drive, too.”
Keenan says that his love for the sport and all the accolades that came with it, is thanks to his family. “The initial support that I needed and which I received was from my parents. If they hadn’t supported me I wouldn’t be able to achieve my dream of being a footballer. It’s very important to any athlete who wants to make a sport their career, that they have support from their family. I was lucky that both my mom and dad were fully supportive… so much so that as a kid, when I was low on motivation, they would push me and teach me how not to give up and move ahead.
When I was injured for two years, I received loads of support from my friends. In some way or the other they kept me motivated from their side. All these little things add up and has helped motivate me. A few good words, positive gestures… they make all the difference, when you are down and low.”
Keenan says that encouragement and support from family and friends is what one needs to overcome difficulties and considers himself blessed to have a supportive family and good friends. Keenan concludes with a message to aspiring sportspeople. “If you have a dream, which you want to achieve badly, do all it takes to achieve that dream! It is simple, If you want it then you work for it!”
Keenan with the ISL Trophy
JASMINE D’SOUZA
J’ZY Yoga & Fitness Studio
SUMEET BHOBE
Co-founder, SNIP Salons & Spas Good Health: The Ultimate Goal
Since 2015, International Yoga Day is celebrated every year on June 21. The United Nations has marked the day to raise awareness about the many benefits of practising Yoga for people all over the world. The date was chosen because June 21 is the longest day in Northern Hemisphere. The word Yoga has originated from the Sanskrit word Yuja which means ‘to join or to unite.’ It symbolises the union of body and mind. Apart from physical and mental relaxation, Yoga also helps develop strength, flexibility and immunity. This is especially important in times of the ongoing pandemic, when the mental and physical health of people has come under dire stress. ‘Prevention is Better than Cure’; hence, it is important that we reflect on our lifestyle patterns. Yoga is known to keep the balance between body and mind. Yoga does not include heavy cardio and hence has a very subtle but strong and long-term effect on both your internal and external body environment. Here, we share a few pictures of Goa’s beautiful people, on their ‘Yoga Day’ exploits
SHANICE SOUSA PEREIRA
Architect, Reira Group
MyGoa: The Coconut Plucker A Tender Memory
The writer takes a walk down memory lane and reminisces about the days when the coconut plucker was a regular feature of the Goan landscape and households
SEBASTIAN NORONHA
Belonging to a very typical village setup in Goa, I am quite accustomed to various intrinsically Goan traditions, practices, and events. One such thing was the regular visit of the coconut plucker – the paadekar.
The day would start just like any other, with maybe a classic breakfast of fresh warm pao along with left-over curry, heated and reduced to a much tastier concoction than it was at the time it was freshly prepared. While washing down the spicy breakfast with some piping-hot black tea, and while cursorily going through the local daily, the nondescript morning atmosphere would suddenly break into shrill but melodious howls. To the ear that has never heard such unearthly howls, it would sound like nothing less than some tribal call for battle. But to an ear that is accustomed to such unusual sounds, it only meant that the day was going to be another one of those frenzied coconut-collecting holidays.
We used to have a sizable number of coconut trees in our compound in the past, many of which have, over the years been felled to make way for tarred roads which were once simple sandy foot-ways (paimvaat).
Most of our coconut yield was usurped by our household consumption. Food ranging right from fish curry, to xacuti, and infinite types of sweets, would make the use of some form of coconut or the other. And add to that, the supplementary use of the shell and the husk for other bric-a-brac uses.
A coconut-plucking day in any Goan household was a significant day, and therefore it had to be planned well in advance. Some local helpinghands had to be called to collect the plucked coconuts and to arrange them into a heap in front of the house. We as children, used to tremble with excitement. The main reason for our excitement was the eagerness that we felt; looking forward to a tasty treat of succulent tender coconuts once the plucking was done.
As children it was our responsibility to forage the bushes and the ‘paand’ (the Communidade drainage conduit) for stray coconuts that may have landed there. For some strange reason, there was hardly the fear of reptiles and any creepycrawlies that might have been there in those shady recesses.
All my neighborhood friends who had gathered to play the daily ‘soccer-with-a-tennis-ball’, or ‘catchn-cook’, or ‘hide-n-seek’, used to get unwittingly caught into helping with the coconut-gathering chore in the hope of a tender-coconut reward.
After the gathering of the coconuts came the more serious section of the entire thing – the counting of the coconuts! The coconut plucker would stand with his legs apart and count the coconut in two’s, by flinging them behind him, through his legs, into a separate pile. Then the much awaited calculation happened. And I can still picture the suspended curious look on my mom’s face while she waited with bated breath.
Even in retrospect, I still cannot understand the method or the formula that the man used. For all we know, the equation was probably “the total number of coconuts, divided by the number of trees climbed, plus the angle of the sun at the time, multiplied by the square root of pi...!” But whatever the hell it was, it invariably meant that the plucker got the choicest of the plucked coconuts; the biggest ones at least! And nobody would argue with him. He would then be paid some amount in cash, which again I presume, had a very complicated formula of being calculated.
My favourite part of the entire exercise however, was what came next! The tender-coconut treat! It
Law & Justice Tarun Tejpal’s Verdict
Key observations of the Goa Sessions Court in the Tarun Tejpal verdict leading to his acquital and the State Government’s stand while in appeal against the verdict
By Ameya A. Nayak
Earlier this year, the Apex Court while issuing guidelines on how courts must deal with sexual crimes remarked that rape myths undermine the credibility of those women who are seen to deviate too far from stereotyped notions of chastity, resistance to rape, having visible physical injuries, behaving a certain way, reporting the offence immediately, among other factors.
Pursuant to this, the Sessions Court in Goa, on May 21, in an enormous 527-page judgement, acquitted former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal in a rape case registered in 2013, wherein the presiding judge discredited almost every claim the complainant / prosecutrix had made about the alleged assault. Tejpal had been accused of sexual assault and rape by a colleague.
What is different and deviant from the usual path in this judgement is the fact that the allegations made upon the complainant pertaining to her past were recurrently referred to with the objective of suspecting the legitimacy of her claims against the accused, Tejpal. Additionally, it has also come to light that the slapdash nature of investigation conducted by the police officials has resulted in obliteration of vital evidence in the case.
Notably, the trial in this case has taken almost about 8 years to reach a conclusion wherein, the complainant, who is the prime prosecution witness, was herself cross-examined almost 6 years after the alleged incident, in the year 2019. Thereafter, on May 21, 2021 the court acquitted Tejpal on the grounds that the prosecution utterly failed in its duty to prove the guilt of the accused ‘beyond reasonable doubt.’
Few striking components of this verdict that catch the attention of the public eye are: a. It doubts the veracity of the complainant and declares her testimony to be unreliable. b. It holds the complainant and accused to opposing standards indicating further stringency in verifying the testimony of the complainant. c. The standards seem to have been relaxed when it comes to examination of the accused, Tejpal. d. Differential treatment meted out to eye-witnesses in the case. e. Failure on part of the prosecution to take into account crucial documentary evidence, examine key witnesses.
Following the acquittal, the Government of Goa has gone into appeal against the verdict wherein, the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court, while issuing notice to Tejpal, commented on the said happening and observed that the judgement of the Sessions Court in the Tejpal case was like a “manual for rape victims” as it lays increased emphasis on the ways in which a victim is expected to respond in such matters.
The Sessions Court, in its judgment had questioned the conduct of the complainant prosecutrix while stating that she had not shown signs of any standardizing demeanors such as anxiety, trauma or any sort of shock, which a sexual assault victim is conceivably expected to exhibit.
Solicitor General of India, Tushar Mehta, who appears for the Goa Government (Appellant) in the appeal made a couple of references to the Sessions Court judgement, primarily calling it greatly improbable. The judgement states that the victim is an intelligent woman and being physically strong, as she is a yoga instructor, could have prevented the sexual assault on her. Mehta also pointed out to the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court the observations made by the Sessions Court pertaining to the victim’s consultations with distinguished women advocates such as Rebecca John and Indira Jaising.
While giving an example of how the Sessions Court has digressed from its point, Mehta pointed out that, the fact that the victim had saved Indira Jaising’s number on her phone as ‘Brahmastra’ is entirely irrelevant to the case and must be retracted in totality.
He further stated, “This will have a pan-India effect as everyone will read the judgement. In future, a victim of sexual assault may hesitate in taking legal advice. There is a portion in the judgement that these lawyers are feminists.” Mehta, in his argument
Tarun Tejpal The Goa bench of the Bombay HC while issuing notice to Tejpal in the appeal has observed that there is a prima facie case that is made out against Tejpal and has asked for all records and proceedings from the trial court
further pointed out that the observations based on which the Sessions Court delivered its judgement is entirely impervious towards the atrocities that are committed against women and unquestionably absences knowledge on the subject matter in question.
It appears, as per Mehta, as though the victim was on trial rather than the accused and the text of the Sessions Court verdict indicates that the victim was on trial and not the accused. The government of Goa in its appeal has stated that the case is fit for being re-tried on the grounds that the Sessions Court has misinterpreted the post-traumatic behaviour of an assault victim and reprimanded her character.
In addition to this, it has been pointed out as to how the Sessions Court has labelled the accused person’s evidence to be the ‘gospel truth’ and has entirely discredited the evidence and witnesses produced by the prosecution.
The Goa bench of the Bombay High Court while issuing notice to Tejpal in the appeal has observed that there is a prima facie case that is made out against Tejpal and has asked for all records and proceedings from the trial court to be delivered to the High Court.
What would be the outcome of the appeal and whether it would lead to a reversal of Tejpal’s acquittal is something that we would have to wait and watch out for!
used to be amazing to watch how the plucker would chop the coconut while holding it in just one hand and slicing away with his perpetually sharp ‘Koiti’ (chopper). I would watch the process in absolute awe! I couldn’t wait to one day grow up and be able to chop a coconut like that! To me the coconut plucker was nothing less than a superhero – albeit a very messy and sweaty one. But at least his shorter-than-short hot-pants would make Superman look overdressed, with his cape and his briefs-on-the-outside outfit.
While we children used to feast upon the tender flesh of the coconuts, the plucker would expertly pull out strands from each of the coconuts in the set that he had put aside for himself, and string them up together in such a way that he could conveniently hang them on either side of his bicycle handle, carefully and mathematically maintaining equilibrium. And with a last final blood-curdling howl he would set out on his journey home, or to the local tavern for the afternoon dose of some feni-fueled juicy gossip.
Even with the plucker having left, we at home were far from starting our play session. The task of putting the coconuts into the backyard ‘hoomp’ (thatched hut used for storage) was still looming large. This task however, came with its own separate reward! This reward would be in the form of some nice delicious ‘aatol’ (rice, beans, coconut, and jaggery pie) that mom would prepare for the evening teatime.
Fast-forward – today! The trees in the compound are not as many as they used to be. And sadly, our regular coconut plucker is now a very old man who can barely walk. It is almost a dead occupation today anyways. I am open to correction, but in my view I think in the whole of Goa there will be hardly any traditional (indigenous Goan) coconut pluckers left at all.
The nostalgic memory remains, and it plucks poignantly at the heartstrings; but the succulent reward of the soft tender-coconut has ceased to thrill me anymore!
< Continued from Page 52
A Tender Memory
Sebastian Noronha is a true-blue Goan, currently employed as a Client Communications Manager at a leading Architecture Studio in Kuwait. Appears to be a nice chap, though he generally thrives on rubbing people the wrong way with his writing.
The Last Editor
Freedom fighter, journalist, writer and family man, Lambert Macarenhas leaves behind a rich legacy
By Sybil Rodrigues
Padmashri Lambert Mascarenhas, the noted freedom fighter, journalist and writer, passed away on June 27th at his residence in Dona Paula. He was 106.
Lambert was the first joint editor of the first English daily in Goa The Navhind Times and groomed many a young journalist, under his tutelage.
He was born in Goa, Portuguese India, while his early education was in Pune and later at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. He leaves behind his wife Dr. Jolly and four children, Nayantara, Ameeta, Anjali and Jude.
Lambert didn’t follow in the footsteps of his father, a doctor, but graduated in English. Prior to Goa’s liberation, his writings had him arrested and sentenced to prison, following which he fled to Mumbai.
He began his career as a journalist in the Morning Standard at Mumbai. He worked as a sub-editor at the Bombay Sentinel, under the legendary Editor B.G. Horniman. He later joined the Onlooker as an assistant-editor. Subsequently, he edited the Goan Tribune, which espoused the cause of Goa’s Liberation from the colonial Portuguese rule.
Upon his return to liberated Goa in 1961, he joined as joint-editor Editor of The Navhind Times; and three years later founded his own monthly magazine, Goa Today.
Mascarenhas also contributed to India’s freedom movement. When at the Goan Tribune, he wrote numerous articles against the colonial regime in Goa and caught the attention of both Indian leaders as well as the Portuguese rulers.
When on a visit to Goa in 1948, Mascarenhas was arrested and jailed by the Portuguese for his articles. He was later released on bail and expelled from Goa.
The eminent journalist was also a renowned writer and authored several books including Sorrowing Lies My Land, The First City, In the Womb of Saudade, The Greater Tragedy, and Heartbreak Passage
Sorrowing Lies My Land, published in 1955, in the years, preceding Goa’s liberation, is his most famous work as a novelist. Focussed on attempts to free Goa, it ran into several editions and was translated into Konkani, Marathi and Portuguese.
The story of his marriage is one of Goan legend. Refusing to enter into matrimony, while Goa was under Portuguese Rule, he vowed to do it only in an “independent and liberated Goa, where he could breathe free air”.
In December 1961, the month Goa was liberated, he married Dr. Jolly. Lambert was honoured with Padma Shri in 2015 by Government of India which was presented to him by the then President Pranab Mukherjee.
The State government bestowed upon him the highest civilian award of Goa, Gomant Vibhushan.
He also received the Laxmidas Borkar Memorial Award for Journalism in 2004. During his sunset years, the veteran journalist expressed his disappointment over the way Goa had shaped after the departure of the Portuguese and openly lamented the deteriorating system. Always outspoken, Lambert was never afraid to tell the political party of the time what he felt and never cared for the consequences. With his magazine, Goa Today, he was able to voice his opinions to Goans all over the world. Being an adventurer, he loved to travel. He spent his twilight years at his home in Dona Paula with his family who he loved more than anything else
Ralph de Sousa has been elected President of Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry for the term 2021-23. His nomination was unopposed.
Ralph, a hotelier and senior travel and tourism entrepreneur, has been serving on various leadership positions at GCCI for nearly two decades. He has also headed CII Goa Council and Travel & Tourism Association of Goa in the past.
Ralph takes over from Manoj
Pic: Aliston Dias Caculo, whose term as president of GCCI ended this June.
“It is the Goa Chamber’s view that the State has to patronise small industries by purchasing all their requirements from these industries in Goa. This will, to an extent, boost their revenues,” he says.
Ralph belongs to the village of Assagao. He lives in Saligao with his wife Carolina, a former secondary school teacher, and his 2 children Carlos Noel & Karla Maris
Savio Rodrigues’ new book
Modi Stole My Mask has been co-authored with Amit Bagaria by Savio Rodrigues, editor of Goa Chronicle.
The book reportedly exposes the truth behind India’s COVID-19 crisis through vehement research on facts and data by the authors.
The book raises pertinent questions on whether Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi has lost his popularity due to the management of COVID-19 pandemic health crisis, among other questions. “The truth is all that matters. The people of India and the world need to know the truth because right now there is extensive misinformation in the country,” says Rodrigues
Acrylic Sundays
Sunaparanta Goa Centre for the
Arts is hosting Acrylic Sundays with contemporary artist Chaitali Morajkar beginning July 4. There will be sessions held on Sundays on Zoom, from 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. The course is open to ages 13 years and above. Details: info@sgcfa.org
Book Reading
As part of its ‘Kitaab: Books in Discussion’ series, International Centre Goa (ICG) will host a discussion of the book Thirsty Cities: Social Contracts and Public Goods Provision in China and India by assistant professor in international
Short Story Competition
Fundação Oriente is hosting the sixth edition of its short story competition, the Fundação Oriente Short Story Competition (FOSCC). Entries for the same will be accepted between July 15 and July 30. The winning and shortlisted stories will be published in the anthology Short Stories from Goa in 2022. Details: 2230728/fossc2021@ gmail.com
affairs, National University of Singapore, Selina Ho on July 2, 4.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. via Zoom Live. The session will be moderated by director, ICG, Pushkar. Register at: https://bit. ly/35gCbMi
