VASCO: A legend of the bygone years, of the early and late 60’s and 70’s, top charted football player of Vasco sports club passed away peacefully at the age 69. Andrew kept his name on the football scene for a decade. He was the team mate of the stalwarts like Domnic, Bernardo, Catao, Arvinder Singh, Sudhir, George Ambrose, Raymond etc.
Vasco sports club was always the winner of the years. Almost every trophy was snatched by them with great players like Andrew and the others. They were the giants of Goa. Andrew was the centre forward of the team with George Ambrose commonly known then as “Pele” at the backs.
He was first brought in for the team by Caetaninho De Sousa and Ireneu Henriques, who were also the team players. Andrew had received many offers from other clubs. The Tatas wanted him, the East Bengalese wanted him, but unlike Bernardo who left for Orkays, Andrew did not give up his team till the very end of his play.
After 13 long years of play this great son of Goa, a Great football player retired finally in 1975 majestically and with pride of a football player. Those who have watched his games will not deny that he was a legend of Goan football. He had good combination from Bernado, Domnic and Catao who too are legends of the Goan football arena.
May the soul of this great player rest in peace and may the others left be condoled on the departure of their colleague.
RIQUIEM IN PACE
Even though I was young , I had the previlage to see Andrew and other stalwards like Dominic, Bernardo, Catao ,Sudir etc in action. .I still remember the goal scored by Bernardo against Bengal in the Santosh Trophy at Vasco. As a true football lover, I pray to God to give eternal life to Andrew and strength and courage to his family. The great footballers of bygone era are very difficult to find now.
ReplyDeleteIn Goan football Andrew was a house hold name, like many others I was fortunate to watch Andrew perform on the field. Every youngster at the time wanted to imitate Andrew. The players of his time are Legends of Goa in our hearts and great sons of Goa. Yet no stadium is named after them.
ReplyDeleteWhat position did Nerhu Play? For having Nerhu Stadium in Goa.
May the soul of Andrew rest in peace.
In Goan football Andrew was a house hold name, like many others I was fortunate to watch Andrew perform on the field. Every youngster at the time wanted to imitate Andrew. The players of his time are Legends of Goa in our hearts and great sons of Goa. Yet no stadium is named after them.
ReplyDeleteWhat position did Nerhu Play? For having Nerhu Stadium in Goa.
May the soul of Andrew rest in peace.
Diogo Fichardo I like your question about what position Nerhu played. He was playing f** ball with Lady Mountbatten right at the center. The Congress Goan MLA,s feel that if they name places or stadiums after the Gandhi family they will be very close to them so that they can loot more. Another example is that of new GMC at Bambolim named after Rajiv Gandhi with his statue there. Goa Medical College or School as it was known then was the oldest Medical College in the whole of Asia and the name should have remained like that to show the richness of our history. But who cares ? They feel if the Center allocates some funds to the State of Goa it comes from the Gandhi family. They fail to understand that this is tax payers money. Dr. Wilfred D'Souza was intrumental to change the name of GMC to Rajiv Medical Complex as if there were no Goan Doctors to name if after. At least he should have named it after Dr. Jack de Sequeira who had brought him into politics. Where does Dr. Willy stands today. ? And I wonder who ever will remember him once he is dead.
ReplyDeleteAndrew will always be remembered by the football fertinity in Goa. Vasco Sports Club's ABCD thought the Goans ABCD of football. We will always be proud of you Andrew, May your sould rest in peace. My condolences to his beloved family.
ReplyDeleteMy God bless and give Andrew peace in eternal life. He was a player with caliber The A_B_C_D of foot ball will never be matched, Andrew_Bernardo_Catao_Domnic. I have yet to see such a spectacular Combination in football anywhere. It is a shame Goa has not built on such players of the past. God Bless Them All.
ReplyDeleteHE USED TO PLAY AS DEFENDER AGAINST THE CHINA OR PAKISTAN ATTACK. THE CAMPAL STADIUM MAY BE NAMED AFTER RAJIV GANDHI I SUPPOSE AS A CONDITION TO GET GRANTS. THOUGH i HAVE NOT SEEN ANDREW PLAY AS I WAS A KID THEN. BUT STILL EVERYONE TALKS OF THE LETHAL "ABCD" ATTACK
ReplyDeleteMay Andrew's Soul Rest in Peace. Goa can never produce such players ever again? Gobor you are correct in stating the Lethal "ABCD" attack I enjoyed watching them Andrew was one of the cleanest players as far as I can remember. The great shame is All our stadiums and sports complexes are named after Non-Goans the Ghantis. "Nerhu Stadium" why? Nerhu has brought misery to the lives of Goans.
ReplyDeleteMay God grant Andrew peace in his heavenly life.
ReplyDeleteAndrew and ABCD has left a mark on Goan Football so did Vasco Club at its time. We have see the decline of football among Goan clubs and Goan players. Importing players from other countries do not help. The diet of young Goan players is not the same as it once was. It is fast food diet that has let our younger upcoming players down, who cannot last more then 90 minutes on the pitch. Mush said The same Question why are there no football grounds not named after Goam Players or as AtoZ said Dr Jack Sequeira? Our Politicians are Greedy Idiots.
CAMPAL Stadium should be named after Andrew, "ANDREW CAMAPAL FOOTBALL GROUND" not after these invader names like chor racist Gandhi, nehru or so on.
ReplyDeleteNot only Andrew was a legend, but he still is the legend of Goan Football. He was my favourite and inspiration and Vasco was, and still is, my favourite Club. When I was studying in Dosco's, Pangim, I would never miss a Vasco Club's football team played those days on the Pangim Police Grounds. I knew Andrew well and his loss is deeply mourned. On the photograph his features are still the same, except for the white moustache and a few wrinkles. May God give his soul eternal Peace. Goodbye dear friend!
ReplyDeleteMay Andrew's Soul Rest in Peace
ReplyDeleteIf ever Goa seperate from crook India and Indians, I would be the first person to suggest to rename all the places that have been named after traitors Gan---dhi family. I doubt tomorrow if new Airport comes up at Dabolim that too will be named after Ga....ndi family from Delhi. In Goa we don,t have personalities or legends whether may be sports front or cultural front but they have ample of names from Delhi to name prominent places in order make Goa more Indianised.
ReplyDeleteThe greatest Goans have departed from this earth. For a few rupees in their pockets Goan Government has named Stadiums and places of interest after the thieving Ghandi family from Delhi.
ReplyDeleteAdios Amigos! We have learned a lot from your field courage to play the battles in a real corrupt world. You have left a legacy to unsung Goan heroes. May your fighting inspirations live on with the current and future Goan generation to come.
ReplyDelete