FAREWELL TO KUWAIT.
After working for 43 years in Kuwait first at Kuwait Airways, then at British Embassy and finally at Ahmadi Oil Centre one of the well-known Konkani stage artistes of yesteryears Tony Call (Antonio Cabral) is all set to say good-bye to Kuwait in the next week. To bid him adieu a special farewell function was organized in Kuwait city on 5th of this month by some of his admirers among whom were the presidents of Goan Overseas Association, Kuwait Konknni Kendr, Konkani Heritage Kuwait, Deacon from Kuwait Catholic Church, AVC stalwarts and progressive members of Konkani Tiatro fraternity. Fidelis Fernandes President of KHK started the proceedings with beautiful assessment of Tony Call�s contribution to Tiatro in Kuwait while Raymond D�Sa the president of Goan Overseas Association as colleague of Tony Call at Arpora School in Goa described with his mellifluent tongue the progressive youthful life of Tony Call as Dramatist and also as foot-baller in Goa at School, Village and Goa levels. Later on thru the hands of Raymond D�Sa�, Tony Call was presented with a beautiful memento on behalf of Tiatro lovers. Deacon Sylvester of Catholic Church recounted his personal experience with Tony Call�s contribution to Tiatro circle when Deacon was personally supervising the renting of Church Hall for Tiatros till 20 years back. Manuel de Santa Cruz a prominent member of Goan community expressed his deep appreciation for the good work of Tony Call on Konkani Stage and Santano Carvalho one of the old timers in Kuwait expressed his total satisfaction for organizing such functions in appreciation of members of community for their good work in Kuwait. He further said that such functions and activities were not seen during those days because those days people lack greatness of heart to appreciate good work in others. Tony Call�s beautiful daughter and once a child artiste of Konkani stage in Kuwait, Rita � God child of Rita Rose - proposed the vote of thanks. A. Veronica Fernandes while compeering the proceedings described in totality all the contributions of Tony Call from Konkani Stage to Sports. Before coming to Kuwait on Portuguese Passport as Goa was under Portuguese rule till 1961 December, Tony Call was a renowned foot-ball goalkeeper in Goa playing in the local �primeiro divisao� along with and against best of Portuguese and Goan players. As a goalkeeper his forte lies in diving for the ball with perfect precision from one end of the goal to the other. As a stage artiste, he performed along with all the topmost artistes in Goa and Bombay. In Kuwait he first acted at Ahmadi Naklistan Club where Goan activities were held during those days before shifting to Kuwait City Church Hall. Best of his Dramas he staged in Kuwait and rendered innumerable songs besides having a unique record among expatriate Goans in Kuwait to produce the first Konkani Records (Discs). He was the first Goan to perform at Kuwait TV 27 years back when he rendered a Konkani Song �Ostori�. Besides, 25 years back he also acted along with his artiste wife Josephine in an Arabic Serial shown in KTV. While delivering his speech Tony Call thanked the organizers for arranging this farewell function, praised older artistes in Kuwait for being co-operative and condemned the current ones who sow the seeds of discord. Hitting hard against those tin pot �rostad� tiatrists who create divisions amongst Kuwait based Goan tiatrists by coining the terminology �To aslear Aum Nachona�, Tony Call showed his total disgust for this attitude. Not only this, he also lamented the attitudes of few Goans who support such dirty tricks of dirty tiatrists who say �To Aslear Aum Nachona�. He also indicated his disgust over the attitudes of some tiatrists and organizers for challenging each other by fixing two tiatros on the same day thereby creating further discord amongst Goans in Kuwait. While concluding Tony Call sang the same old song which he rendered on KTV.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
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