www.goa-world. com GULF-GOANS e-NEWSLETTER (since 1994) >>http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/gulf-goans/ http://www.colaco.net/ >>http://www.live365.com/index.live >>Tumcam Maie-mogacho ieukar. Stay tuned to Gulf Goans e-Newsletter - everyday >>someone, somewhere learns a >>little.....________________________________________________________________________________ >> >> >>Alberto S. Fernandes >>Sporting and Enterprising Goan >> >> - by Williams >> >>Alberto Sylvester Fernandes is a successful Goan in Kuwait, having landed in >>the country in 1980. A down to earth and a religious person, as he is, he >>hails from Cansaulim, Salcette, Goa. It’s a proud statement to make that he >>own his own “Workshop with the latest mechanical and electronics equipment >>and gadgets” where he specializes in maintaining and undertaking specially >>focusing on “repairs and modifications” for German-made SUVs and high end >>luxury cars, more specifically for his favorite “Porsche” cars. His clients >>are 95% Kuwaiti nationals who come to repair their cars only to his garages >>at Al Rai. He leaves no stone unturned to praise God for blessing him and his >>family in abundance. >> >>Alberto is the nephew of The Trio Kings stalwart of Konkani Stage Anthony >>D'Souza, a much feared political singer (of his time from early 1960’s and up >>to the present). Though he had intentions to perform on stage but since his >>first love to be in a mechanical line and being a football enthusiast (who >>turned also for his second love for the ‘love of the game of football”, he >>took up a job in a workshop with Books in his hand. >> >>He just entered the workshop and asked the person interviewing him with the >>chief foreman if there exists any vacancy, at once the foreman told him to >>join from Tomorrow due to his aptitude for hard work. That was the day that >>changed his life for betterment. He did not turn back and moved forward and >>learnt diesel and petrol mechanic work. >> >> >>Luck was on his side and he landed on Kuwait soil on 13th July 1983 in the >>summer heat. He took up work in Ajwan Garage Shuwaikh and worked there for a >>lucrative salary. He contributed his 11 valuable years to Royal Garage at >>Shuwaikh. His mind was disturbed as he always wanted to start his own >>business. He started his own garage Dynamic garage in shuwaikh and later >>moved to Al Rai and started the garage with a different name under “Alberto >>Garage" and since that day, has completed 10 years. >> >>He initially took loan to start his own business and after repaying the >>financial institution, he was blessed and fortunate as luck was on his side, >>he won the Dubai Duty Free (DDF) hamper 2001 - a Porsche Car Carrera! >>Incidentally when he and his family were called to ‘pick’ the next draw, the >>same German person won the ‘grand hamper’ who had hand-picked his lucky >>number! >>Alberto's wife, Cynthia, is his strong pillar of support. She always stood by >>him and assisted him in his business and personal life who incidentally is >>also a sports lover (football in particular). Blessed with two daughters >>Veronica Fernandes and Vanessa Fernandes pursuing their education in Medical >>Sciences (including physiotherapy) in India, horse riding and athletics is >>their love, following in their parents footsteps. >> >>The Fernandes’ couple has assisted many Indian nationals and are supporting >>too many causes – be in sports, cultural as well as in their professional >>trades. Having a feel of someone just landing in Kuwait, Alberto would >>provide them suitable accommodation and look after their welfare as is >>basically required in the country, and often on short notice, helped resolve >>their financial and if in emergency, arrange for their travel back home on >>short notice due to humanitarian consideration, extended a helping hand and >>warmth of a true Goan. >> >> >>Alberto supported many Indians including majority of his staff recruited >>directly from Goa to Kuwait to work in his enterprise, and trained them >>putting his time and effort. However, as in all trades and considering the >>young generations greed and lure of extra money some of them ventured out, >>and some who tried their luck, often returned back, when were cheated by >>their new sponsor. Many are still here and have turned their backs on him. >>Even when he won the Lottery, many people were jealous of him and were >>cooking up stories. >> >>In sports field, Alberto donned the Goalkeepers jersey in Football and played >>for Musudad De Colva in the second division GFA (Goa Football Association >>organized leagues). Selected directly in the senior division and played for >>Mandovi Shipyard and in Bombay (Mumbai) played for Moraji Mills also, he >>represented the State of Goa and played in Bahrain and was adjourned “the >>Best Goalkeeper” of the tournament. >> >>As a member of only professional Indian Football Referees Association (IFRA) >>in Kuwait, Alberto coached the Goan Cultural Association (GCA) football team, >>until August 1990, earlier he also played for the best disciplined top team >>among Indian football expatriates, INCREDIBLE XI. >> >>Alberto, although intended to be re-start and dedicate his time and >>specialization within the Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF) for his >>continued love for the game, he abstained and rightly observes “once bitten >>twice shy” as KIFF did not even extended the courtesy to put him in their >>listing of those who have contributed for ‘football’ in the 1980’s and >>1990’s (the Sour Grounds was the only avenue then within Kuwait City), and >>even later when KIFF had a ‘grand celebrations’ for the love of FOOTBALL >>among the expatriate Indian community, including some other Indians/Goans. >> >>Alberto and his family are very religious and have a devotion of Our Lady of >>Arabia and can be seen for the prayer services at the Ahmadi Church on every >>first Friday of the month. He gratefully thank the Almighty and showers >>praise for healing him from arthritis which he suffered during his playing >>days, apart from minor injuries which later had affected his health too. >> >>He proudly and devotedly sends a message to fellow Goans/Indian. “Unitedly we >>should stand together, support and encourage our brothers in their ventures >>and business”, anywhere in the wide-wide world. “Just criticizing them does >>not work out for anyone in the community as well as in the host nation. I >>feel proud and like to continue as a true Goan in my trade and my love for >>football”. >> >>******************* >> >>http://www.indianfrontliners.com/article/11942-alberto-s-fernandes/35-frontline-articles >> >> >>(This article was also published in Goans - Making a Difference (II Edition). >> >>THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Every individual has a place to fill in the world, and >>is important in some respect, whether he chooses to be so or not.
