Sandeep Heble wrote: [1] My long-standing cyber friend Jose Colaco may not have believed me the last time round but perhaps he now will. Portugal was the team that I rooted for during the last European Championships held in 2004.
[2] Euro 2004 ......the then BJP President Rajendra Arlekar embarrassing himself by claiming that those who were supporting the Portugal Football Team were Anti-Nationals. ..Nandakumar Kamat" too surprisingly joined the chorus [3] So are all those who are supporting the Portugal Team Anti-Nationals? Do we suffer from a Portuguese hangover? [4] My cousin sister is a great fan of Imran Khan ... I thoroughly enjoyed the closing Film "Fados" screened during the 'IFFI' Closing ceremony. Is supporting other artists and sportsmen from Other Countries, even when India is not playing, a Crime? So am I an anti-National? Are we all Anti-Nationals? [5] If we are supporting the Portuguese Football Team, it is because of their flair, their elegance and the fact that like Brazil, they make the ball talk and sing. Hopefully, we will not hear a repeat of such foolish comments again. jc's comments: Dear Sandeep, Good to hear from you. One of the best lessons from the recently concluded Indian Premier League (cricket) was how the best cricketers won our hearts. it mattered little which country they originated from. The crowds cheered the good performances from (inter alia) Jayasuria (Sri Lanka), Shane Warne (Australia), Yusuf Pathan (India), Shaun Pollock(South Africa), Adam Gilchrist(Australia), Makhaya Ntini (South Africa) and Sohail Tanveer (Pakistan). The biggest losers were the Rajendra Arlekars and the Chandrakant Kenis of this world. The winners (besides the sport of cricket, the young Indian cricketers and the spectators) were three captains who looked at the game from a very positive position and encouraged their respective teams: Adam Gilchrist and Shaun Pollock (even though their teams did not make it) and Shane Warne who took a relatively no-name (on paper) team and won the the championship. It was also heart-warming to see the crowd and player excitement when Sohail Tanveer hit the winning runs; What a beautiful scene ....a Pakistan bowler being hugged by his Indian club team mates! Wish those moronic politicians from the two incessantly warring nations would take cue. Back to the support that Portugal's football team enjoys among Goans: it probably is related to nostalgia, hang-over whatever but Goans probably know (? subconsciously) that they do have Portuguese background, influence etc. That is why they instinctively support Portugal. Personally, I supported the Portuguese 2004 team - until they demonstrated two behaviour patterns: Falling needlessly in the penalty box, and fouling when the ball is lost. Any sensible football watcher would probably agree that both these tactics lose fans and waste precious time which could be better used to score/equalise. I did not watch the Portugal-Turkey game. (I was in Barbados for the MBBS finals) What I understand is that they did play attractive football even though there were a number of "Bernados" (wild shots while playing for Vasco FC). So, if they play their short-passing style game positively, I will support them. If not - what is the point of watching boring Germany and England. There is a lesson in all this and that is the following: IF we say we are educated and intelligent, we should NOT allow politicians and their lackeys in the lapdog Goa media to control our thoughts, words and actions. We have been controlled enough. No Mas. jc PS: Chandrakant Keni who was made chair (by Whom?) of the NRI "Facilitation" Cell: 'Those who are tempted to be foreigners will have to repent, sooner or later. Their extra territorial loyalties cannot be tolerated. Earlier they leave the shores of this country, better it will be for them and for Goa too.' http://www.colaco.net/1/KeniBunkPort.htm PS2: Have Goans actually helped in the destruction of Goa by trying to destroy ALL Portuguese influences in Goa? Are the vandals of Fontainhas, our greenery, our resources, our communal harmony and our Konkani: patriots or pinheads?
