Good tribute to a person who I enjoyed talking football. I agree that Cyril was dedicated in his mission to provide coaching to youngsters. If I remember correctly, Cyril died following a snake bite. Am I right, Nelson? He was a good player. I know Aniceto Fernandes was good to him but didn't know he helped him go to NIS. Perhaps, Aniceto git the AIFF through the good offuces of Zaiuddhin, the secretary, to recommend him. Eugene
Sent from my iPad > On Feb 9, 2019, at 10:28 AM, Nelson Lopes <nellope...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > CYRIL FERRAO , First Goanprofessional coach. > > Mr. Antonio Ciril Ferrao, alias Cyril was born on 2nd. Nov.1929 at > Chinchinim, to late Mr Tomacino and Mrs Amaldina Ferrao. Eldest in the family > of two brothers and sisters,lost Mr Jose and Mrs Valdomira , leaving behind > Mr, Ludovico and Mrs. Celine. He completed Secondary School at St, > Bosco`High School Chinchinim, and Portuguese education up to grade 7(setman), > He was fluent in English language > > > > He can be proudly honored and included among the PEARLs of Chinchinim > Village. He has left a blazing trail and indelible foot prints on the > football map of India and Goa in particular. He has thus carved a special > niche in the hearts of football lovers, who had great respect for his > dedication and immense contributions to promotion of sports. > > He was employed as the Head clerk at Salgaoncar at Vasco, but nursed a > different ambition in life , which he pursued with single minded devotion . > In his youthful days he was very much associated with Chinchinim Club > devoted to football. It was reputed as granary and nursery of football > players on the football map of Goa . He coached the players of the club > .His personal interest, observations, suggestions and guidance to talented > other players led to polishing and improving of their skills. He was > compelled by circumstances of difference of opinions to register and fund > CHINCHINIM YOUTH CLUB. As the founder, intended to rejuvenate and infuse > interest in the dying game. The players were mostly from Sucaldem and > Plamar-grande. He was generous in extending much needed financial support. > It was for the first time, exclusive and historical , for any Village > to register two clubs but it was possible only because of his clout. His > personal interest, observations, suggestions and guidance to other talented > players led to polishing and improving of their skills. . Dedicated > coaching of the village youth took the game of soccer to great heights of > recognition and excellence. As the coach he was a hard task master, strict > and disciplinarian. Budding players groomed by him loved and feared him as > much .but respected him for his foresight and vision. He was firm in his > conviction not to field or coach players from outside the Village. Under his > tutelage,St Bosco`s H. School ,Chinchinim were crowned finalists, twice in a > row, at all Goa School tournament . Many players of Chinchinim Youth Club > (CYC) were recommended by him for placement and therefore found lucrative, > professional openings in football clubs in the state and India. They climbed > the ladder of success and rose to prominence and fame at International level > too. Their gratitude, appreciation and advancement further enhanced his > commitment. CRCC games then were being fielded and funded by > ChinchinimMotorcyclists and also by Rev Fr. Agnelo, among others to keep > the fires burning. He did always maintain a healthy, co operative and > sporting spirit towards CRCC, in spite of differences of opinions and thus > remained its admirer to the very end. He dashed off to Panjim and secured > blood to save the lives of those Chinchinim players involveled in the deadly > accident at Curtorim . A compromise and understanding was arrived at and he > disbanded Chinchinim Youth Club in favour of CRCC. It was due to his > initiative in indicating and securing the present premises of CRCC with the > support of Mr Alvarino. The only existing Church ground was temporarily under > seize by Portuguese army garrison .Instigated by the vested interest, the > dispossessed tenants publicly abused and threatened him . He was arrested > due to motivated, fabricated police compliant in revenge but soon released, > unharmed by influential contacts .It is with pride and honour we recall that > Chinchinim Club was declared Champions in 1951 , runners up 1952,The > football lovers were delighted and ecstatic He was part of team of Club > Disportivo Chinchinim,he coached and which won Goa`s first ever > PrimeiraDivision League > > > > Mr Cyril captained Salgaocar team and he donned colours for Amadores, Paulo > XI as dependable centre half > > His talents were recognized first by M/s Shantilal , to coach the team, > which he selected to coach for 2 years, which was declared as Champions of > Goa Senior Division League. He thus unearthed scores of promising football > players. His two year stint with Dempo Club as their First Coach1964,also > saw them honoured as Champions GSDL twice in succession, although they > remained at the top many times He also led them to Victory at Bandodkars > Gold trophy. Vasco Club too adorned the glorious cap being crowned Champions > ofGSDL due to his relentless efforts as the coach. He led. Salgaoncar club > to victory with the team selected by him, and were crowned as Championship > of GDSL.Sesa Goa also became Champions of Goa league under his coaching > techniques. He also trained Timblo XI, and Sesa Goa. It thus appeared that > Cyril Ferrao had acquired Midas touch winning honours for the teams he > traine and was saluted as “BORN WINNER”. It was more than coincidental and > unique feat that teams coached by him were crowned Champions of GDSL. He > enjoyed short tenures and the shifts for it provided him a wider base to > prove his merit and skills, experimenting with new players. How. true he > converted losers into winners It was due to his persistent efforts Santosh > trophy was launched in Goa, 1973 for the first time. He was in charge in > 1967 of Goa team at Santosh Trophy. His in depth analysis of the game., > techniques and strategies were highly successful. > > Mr Aniceto, recognized his potential and promoted his training at Patiala. He > qualified as First and only Goan professional Soccer Coach at NIS (National > Institute of Sports ) that changed his course . . > > > > > > . Undoubtedly Cyril earned the well deserved title of “best coach in Goa” , > but unfortunately to his disappointment the much awaited, legitimate > recognition at all India level eluded him for unknown reasons. It is > rumoured that he received much awaited invitation for advance course in > Brazil after his demise. It is an enviable proud fact that in Chinchinim > Village he is the flag bearer, as no sportsperson/coach has been able to > replicate his stupendous feats of achievements or rise above and see beyond > his shoulders. He commanded respect from all officials, Associations , clubs > connected with sports, received due consideration and courtesies to his > views and suggestions. When he joined Govt service he trained school football > teams with renewed vigour and purpose for future. It was his conviction never > to stand in winners group photographer Being qualified with Portuguese > studies he declined Govt. postings > > His role as an expert football commentator was much appreciated. His > valued comments and insights received accolades and acceptance as one and > only among few as gifted to enter the competitive field. > > He was accredited sports reporter for Konkanni weekly Vauradeamncho Ixtt. > > > > His untimely , unexpected , unfortunate demise on 17-9- 1971 cast a shadow of > gloom and despair over his native place, Goa and all over India. > > His funeral rites remains the largest gathering of mourners, a sea of > humanity ever witnessed in Chinchinim till date. It was the barometer of his > all Goa popularity, respect and recognition, Indeed it was a colourful > spectacle with many prominent sports clubs donned with club colours at > the funeral . The funeral oratories by a selected few, sports stalwarts, > Govt. functionaries, eulogized his achievements in soccer and the mourners > listened attentively and respectively till the end. The privilege of CRRC as > pole bearers in club attire led him on his eternal journey to the sound of > last post. . He was thus laid to rest with greatest traditions of gratitude > and honour he so richly deserved .Perhaps, because of his dedication and > commitments he remained a confirmed bachelor, married to sports, which was > his life`s only passion ,he dearly cherished > > Adv.Leo Velho, a prominent personality and football player of repute at the > finals of tournament conducted by him, had installed foundation stone in > the presence of Minister dedicating the CRCC ground to his revered memory. > Times, circumstances and priorities have altered the situation due to > rivalries. > > To immortalize his outstanding contributions to sports, the Village Panchayat > of Chinchinim Deussua has honoured this great son of the soil, perpetuating > his memory by naming Chinchinim-Deussua road as a fitting tribute after him > at a function on 15th. August. 2001. Surely his memory needs a better and > appropriate gesture of gratitude even at this late stage > > Nelson Lopes > Chairman P.C Trust > 15 Feb 2019 > (The information , documented here is based on secondary sources of oral > deposition from erstwhile soccer players and family . Any unintentional > factual errors are subject to rectification, modification and refinement ,as > it is being the first and only known written tribute.) > > > > > > > Sent from my iPhone