Indian Football has produced many legendary footballers and house-hold names. They are remembered and their tales are cherished. Among the many who played football among Indian expatriates in Kuwait since 1979, few have risen to something bigger than themselves. They will leave behind a legacy, they will forever remain legends of the game...
Some of the Living Legends are:
Julio CardosoBirthplace: Galgibaga, Canacona
Team: GOA Maroons
Playing position: Goalkeeper
G.O.A Maroons stalwart Julio Cardoso – a popular figure on the football field and one of the most prominent personalities among Goans in Kuwait is one of the undisputed Legends of Indian Football in Kuwait.
As recently as March 2007, Julio was awarded ‘Athlete of the Year’ by Clube Recreative de Chinchinim (CRC Chinchinim). The award, in a distinguished trophy form, is one of the few noteworthy awards for Indian sportsmen in Kuwait and is given away for an individual for absolute and outstanding contribution and achievements in sports.
Julio Cardoso has been a complete footballer and a 'jovial' disciplinarian. The evergreen star started 'under the bar' at a young age of 19 years with Friends Club -- way back in 1977 and thereafter went on to play for top clubs of Kuwait like Salcete United, Incredible XI, United Goans, etc, before joining the renowned club G.O.A Maroons in 1994.
Julio at his best - Those were the days: Indian football in the '80's watched by a capacity crowd at Ahmadi Grounds
One of the oldest players registered with Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF), Julio has been playing active football till date. During his peak form he was considered one of the best goalkeepers in Kuwait especially during his years with Friends Club and Goa Maroons.
Julio has represented Kuwait in the KIFF Selection that toured Bahrain in 1987 and played against Kerala in Kuwait in 1989.
He also captained a team of Kuwait Goans sponsored by Goan Welfare Society at the Overseas World Cup Tournament held in Goa in 2001.Julio has won a total of 9 man of the match awards in KIFF organized tournaments in Kuwait.
Julio being awarded 'Athlete of the Year' at the hands of Bosco Leitao, President - CRC Chinchinim.
In his career spanning nearly 30 years of soccer in Kuwait, Julio recalls having received just 1 yellow card (for handling the ball).
The vibrant personality was also considered one of the best Indian Referees in Kuwait while representing the KIFF Referees body.
Fact File: Julio Cardoso
Birth date: 8th April
Place of birth: Galgibaga, Canacona, Goa
Education: Monte De Guirim – Goa
1977 ~ 1985: Friends Club – Salmiya
1986 ~ 1988: New Goans Overseas Association
1989 ~ 1990: Salcete United till Invasion of Kuwait
1991: Incredible XI
1992-1993: United Goans Center
1994 until now (14 years): G.O.A Maroons.
Other Activities
Ex-Vice President of Goan Welfare Society
Gen. Secretary, Goan Overseas Association
Avelino DiasBirthplace: Nagmoddem, Navelim
Home: Kuwait / Benaulim / Navelim
Position: Goalkeeper
Team: Navelim Youth Centre (NYC)
Avelino Dias, son of Pedro & Maria Dias, is a disciplined personality in every field and was a dynamic goalkeeper since his schooling days at Rosary High School, Navelim, Salcete - Goa.
As fate brought him to Kuwait at a young age, with dreams intact, Avelino continued with the game joining United Goans Club in the year 1984. He later joined Boys Own Club in 1985.
With the inception of Navelim Youth Centre in 1987, the patriotic son of Navelim switched clubs to strengthen the citadel of his ‘home’ club. Since then, Avelino has been a key player/Committee member of Navelim Youth Centre in Kuwait and has helped the club win innumerable trophies including the prestigious 3 Silver Jubilee Trophies (United Goans Trophy; Rising Stars Trophy; and GOA Maroons Silver Jubilee Trophy) apart from 5 KIFF League titles and several man-of-the-match awards.
Avelino also donned colors for the formidable Salgaocar Sports Club which won the All India football tournament at Patna, Bihar in the 1990-91 season (during the invasion of Kuwait).
Avelino Dias (squatting - 4th from left) with Salgaocar SC under legendary coach T. Shanmugam.
The versatile goalkeeper, administrator and low profiled ‘Legend of Kuwait Indian Football’, first came into limelight when he represented Goa in the National School Games consecutively in 1980 and 1981. Immediately, he was selected for the Indian Football coaching camp in preparation for the International School Games to be held at Bangkok in 1981-82. Avelino, had also represented GOA in the Junior Nationals held at Pondicherry – 1982.
Earlier in his years, Avelino captained Rosary High School, Navelim in the Under-19 (1980-81 & 1981-82) to win the South Goa Championship in the Inter-Schools Football Tournament organized by Government of Goa, Daman and Diu -- Directorate of Sports & Cultural Affairs - Panaji, Goa. 
The 'Legend of Indian Football in Kuwait' was honored at the KIFF NITE held on 31st May 2007. The star whose favorite website is http://www.indianfootball.com/ says, “Football is my passion and I am still passionate... But when I see youngsters around, I feel so sorry...the younger players have neither commitment nor dedication towards the game... Hope the future brings about a change to the new generation and Indian football in particular.”
Avelino is happily married and living in Kuwait with his wife Priscilla and two sons Craig and Gordon.
Fact File: Avelino Dias
Other teams played in Goa:
- Played for Rosary Youth Centre
- CRSC Navelim
- ABC Benaulim
- Played for Sao Jose De Areal in the GFA's First Division League.
- Salcete Football Club.
Cajetan GodinhoHome: Majorda, Goa
Playing position – Midfield
Team: Veterans XI
Cajetan Godinho (Caje) is one of the most popular personalities in Kuwait – known as a footballer, a Konkani poet and a ‘Legend of Soor Grounds’.
Born with an inborn talent, Cajetan started playing football at an early age and captained A. A. de Majorda for 4 years in Goa. He later joined Marmagoa Port Trust (MPT) – Goa but soon decided to go abroad (Kuwait).
Cajetan captained Goan Sporting Club from 1979 to 1995. One of the few players to grace the famous Soor Grounds since the inception of competitive soccer in 1979, he holds the honor of being the first ever captain to win the foremost Expatriate Indian Football tournament organized by United Goans Centre in Kuwait.
Since 1995, the flamboyant star has donned colors for different clubs like GOA Maroons, Betalbatim Majorda Club (BMC), United Friends Club, Veterans, Ave Maria, etc.
In the 2002-03 season, Cajetan played for Navelim Youth Centre and featured in many finals including the grand KIFF League Final played at Al-Arabi Stadium against United Friends Club which was witnessed by Mr. Alberto Colaco - India’s Football administrator and chief guest on the occasion.
In the early 1984, Brazilian trainer Carlos Alberto Pareira specially singled out Cajetan for an excellent game during the finals of IDA Memorial Football Tournament at Soor Grounds for which the former Kuwait National Team coach was chief guest.
Cajetan Godinho holds a unique record for being the only player among Expatriate Indians not to have received a warning/caution (yellow card) throughout his carrier that has spanned over 3 decades.For the last several years, Cajetan has been playing with contact lenses to enable him to continue with the sport he loves so much. Equally strong with both legs and a free kick specialist with 'lethal potential', Cajetan has scored from different angles, even from the centre of the field. "He is gifted with a rare and incomparable ability to hit the bull's eye with amazing 'spiral shots' into the goal straight from the flag kicks," wrote one freelancer in the media about the Cajetan's ability.
In the early 90’s, Cajetan captained the first Goan Selection in Kuwait against Kerala XI – the first ever such selection game. Cajetan also played for Goa XI - Kuwait against Bahrain Goans and Kerala XI in Manama, and played for KIFF XI Selection against Kuwait’s Al Arabi Sports Club where he was awarded by KIFF with a Fair Play Trophy.
CRC Chinchinim awarded Caje in 2001 with ‘Athlete of the Year’ Award – one of the most prestigious recognition given to a footballer in Kuwait.
Joseph SalemaPlace: Navelim (Goa)
Position: Striker
Team: United Goans Centre (UG)
Played in Kuwait since 1983, Joseph Salema, undoubtedly, is one of the legends of Indian Football in Kuwait.
During his peak form, Salema was the most dangerous player anywhere near the D-Area. Fast as the wind, tough as a bull and still a disciplined footballer, Salema could go past any defence with his magical dribbling and bullet 'shots' with his gifted left foot.
A star player of Mafatlal Bombay, Salema went on to play for Maharashtra and Junior India.
Playing for Navelim Sporting back home in Inter-village tournaments, Salema was a ‘Hero from Kuwait’ -- welcome to play for the club anytime he came down on vacation. Supporters used to go crazy to watch this mercurial striker and many youngsters, who did not see him often, wondered why the Goan top Division teams never roped him in. He was a star at every tournament especially in Salcete.
Salema in his farewell game before he left Kuwait to settle down in Canada
Remembering his younger days Salema says, "I was selected to participate in the Asian Championship'82 at Salt Lake, Culcutta but due to a knee injury during training I lost the opportunity. I also had an invitation letter from Mohan Bagan which I declined as I was too young to take the decision at that time; the letter, however has remained as a souvenir."Kuwait Indians are proud to have Salema playing at Soor and guiding younger players. His efforts to promote Indian Football game in Kuwait shall never be forgotten.
Fact File: Joseph Salema
Village clubs: C.R.S.C, Navelim Sporting & Navelim Union
Schools: Guardian Angel( Subroto, Eddie Memorial at Belgaum & Interschools Games)
Goa Football Association (GOA): Guardian Angel & Mandovi Shipyard
WIFA Bombay: Income Tax, Central Railways & Mafatlal
National: Represented All India Schools for Goa twice -Punjab & Haryana; Represented Goa (Jr.) National in Srinagar; (Kashmir )as vice-captain; Represented Maharashtra (Jr.) National in Orissa as captain; Represented All India Railways for Maharashtra; Represented India (Jr.) in Bangladesh as vice captain
Kuwait: Navelim Youth Centre & United Goans' Centre; Played Goa XI Kuwait in Bahrain
Awards: Awarded "Athlete of the Year - 2005 " by CRC Chinchinim, Kuwait.
Hobbies: Travelling, Music & reading.