๐๐บ ๐๐ข๐ด๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ณ ๐๐ณ๐ข๐ด๐ต๐ฐ
Goans have lived in Kuwait for ages, excelling in their field of profession by way of sheer dedication and hard work.
The best thing is that, Goans abroad are always very close to their traditional and spiritual links with Goa.
In this article, we trace the life of Agnello A.S. Fernandes, a well-known personality among Goans, for whom life in Kuwait has been more than just a blessing.
From being President of Navelim YC in Kuwait for many years - actively supporting Indian football activities and Goan culture & art, shouldering the first Gulf Voice of Goa singing competition, to organizing repatriation of stranded Goans, to being a role model in charities, Agnello has been there and done that โ living by example.
โKuwait has provided us unimaginable comforts to live and work, and helped us to live our Goan life. This country is more than our second-home,โ says Agnello proudly.
Born in Aquem-Alto, now a posh hub of Margao, son of a sailor, Agnello had his initial education at Guardian Angel High School Sanvordem, before his graduation and arrival in Kuwait in the year 1975.
๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐, ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ช, ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ก๐ค๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐
Agnello started his career with Jassim Mohd Al Ali Al Wazzan in their indenting department as a junior clerk.
After working for 6 years, he joined KFTCIC, the biggest investment company at that time, in their treasury back office. He worked with them for 16 years and when the company merged with Kuwait Investment Company in late 90โs, he moved to National Investment Company as a Settlement Officer.
The ever humble Agnello still remembers that Sunday morning in April 2001, when his former boss and a colleague Mr. Ahmed Mohd Al Bahar called him over the phone and enquired whether he wished to join him at Gulf Custody Company, a fresh new company.
Appreciating the trust put in him, Agnello joined Al Bahar as Senior Settlement Officer and has worked for him since then. Thanks to his hard work, Agnello rose to the position of Vice President - Fund Administration Department of Gulf Custody Company.
Itโs a pride for Goans to see our own fellow Goan achieving such a high position in a country where top positions are mostly dominated by Arabs and Europeans.
๐พ๐๐๐๐๐ฟ๐๐ผ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐พ๐๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ ๐พ๐๐๐๐ผ๐๐
Incidentally, Gulf Custody is the biggest fund custodian in the GCC countries administrating more than 80 funds โ having over 7 billion U.S. dollarsโ worth of assets under them.
Major banks and investment companies are shareholders in this company, which also has full-fledged branches in other Middle-East countries.
โMy progress and success has been gradual. The knowledge and wisdom of experts and abundant blessings from above have made my road to success much easier,โ reveals Agnello.
He further adds, โI am indebted to Al Bahar for having given me a free hand to try new ideas and put my plans to action. I thank him for having faith in my capabilities over the years.โ
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Agnello dedicates his success in life to his wife Neeta Fernandes, working as an Executive Secretary with Gulf Crescent Company for the past many years, whom he calls his first critic.
โAs a matter of fact Neetaโs constructive criticism has polished my talents,โ Agnello jokes.
While the challenging job kept him busy at office during most hours of the day, Neeta has successfully managed the home and family.
Agnelloโs elder son Allan Fernandes is a CIS Engineer graduated from Springfield Missouri U.S.A while his younger son Allison graduated in Aeronautical Engineering from Australia. Both the sons are married and are well settled in Kuwait.
Agnelloโs daughter Alisha is pursuing a medical degree in Edinburgh, Scotland.
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Apart from work and family, the dynamic personality has always been in the forefront of social activities, and is never known to have enemies.
Agnello was best known among Goans in Kuwait for being the President of Navelim Youth Centre for 15 years; the club was at its peak during his tenure especially in football -- winning almost every trophy at stake, and best known for a number of social events.
As Agnello celebrates yet another remarkable year of his life, he continues to live each day with sparkling cheer and content of a young bubbling kid โ who first set foot in Kuwait over half a century ago.
๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ท๐ผ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐น๐ถ๐ณ๐ฒ. ๐๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ ๐ฏ๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ฑ๐ฎ๐!