𝘉𝘺 𝘎𝘢𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘰 / 𝘒𝘶𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵
Chinchinim village in South Goa has produced many legendary footballers and household names.
Some of the legends from this village living away in Mumbai and other parts of the world are well-remembered and their tales, highly cherished.
Among the many who played football at the senior level, few have risen bigger than themselves; their glorious contributions to Goan & Indian football can never be forgotten.
One such popular footballer from Chinchinim who created ripples both on and off the field for his game as well as his handsome, baby-faced looks is Mario Rodrigues, fondly called ‘Chane-pil’ (meaning baby-squirrel) by his buddies.
The ex-Salgaocar and Churchill Brothers striker, now based in Mumbai and working for Central Railway, celebrates his birthday today – 14th October.
𝙀𝘼𝙍𝙇𝙔 𝙔𝙀𝘼𝙍𝙎 𝘼𝙉𝘿 𝙋𝙀𝙍𝙎𝙊𝙉𝘼𝙇 𝙇𝙄𝙁𝙀
Born to Caetano Cruz Rodrigues and Julieta B. Rodrigues, Mario has 3 brothers – Lusitano, Freddie and Jossie.
Hailing from Palmar Grande, Chinchinim, Mario studied at Mount Mary's High School, Chinchinim before graduating in Commerce through Shree Damodar College, Margao.
Later, Mario pursued academics in Computer Management and Hotel Management.
Happily married to Olivia Rodrigues, Salgaocar legends Irineu Gonsalves and Norbert Gonsalves’ sister’s daughter, Mario has two daughters named Christine and Malivia.
Mario lives in Thane and works there with the Indian Railways.
𝙁𝙊𝙊𝙏𝘽𝘼𝙇𝙇 𝙋𝘼𝙎𝙎𝙄𝙊𝙉
Everyone admires the life of footballers even though nobody knows their struggles to be what they are in life -- especially after football.
Mario, very popular in Salcete during his time as a footballer, will always have a place in Goa, and most importantly in Chinchinim’s Hall of Fame – as a footballer who dazzled everywhere like a diamond.
Mario’s most memorable match was scoring a hattrick for Churchill Bros versus Titanium-Kerala, in the Federation Cup at Kozhikode, Kerala in 1992-93 season.
Continuing his passion after his playing days, Mario has been serving as Chief Coach of United Football Club (UFC), Kalyan from 2003 till date.
𝘾𝙊𝘼𝘾𝙃𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝘼𝙎𝙎𝙄𝙂𝙉𝙈𝙀𝙉𝙏𝙎:
• Appointed Chief Coach of Thane Dist. Football Association (TDFA) in Inter-Dist. Football Championship of Maharashtra at Aurangabad in 2002.
• United Football Club (UFC), Kalyan from 2003 till date.
• Lourdes High School, Kalyan from 2003 to 2007
𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦:
𝙋𝙍𝙊𝙁𝙀𝙎𝙎𝙄𝙊𝙉𝘼𝙇 𝙇𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙇:
• Played for Salgaoncar Sports Club, Goa from 1988-1990
• Played for Churchill Brothers F.C, Goa from 1991-1994.
𝙎𝙀𝙉𝙄𝙊𝙍-𝙇𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙇:
• Played for Central Railway, Parel Workshop in Senior Division of MDFA league from 2001 to 2008.
• Played for Central Railway H.Qtrs in Super/Elite Division of MDFA league from 1994-2001.
𝙔𝙊𝙐𝙏𝙃 𝙇𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙇:
1991:
• Played for Goa University for Inter-Zone and Inter-University Championship at Cuttack, Orissa (Winners).
• Played for Goa for the U-21 Rajiv Gandhi National Football Championship in Gujarat.
1989:
• Attended India U-19 Camp at Cannanore, Kerala, under Coach Josef Galey, and Sukwinder Singh. (Dropped from the final List).
1987:
• Played Junior Nationals for Goa State, at Palghar, Kerala.
1986:
• Played XXXII National Schools Games for Goa, at Agartala, Tripura.
1985:
• Played Sub-Junior Nationals Goa at Mysore, Karnataka.
1984:
• Played Sub-Junior Nationals for Goa at Tiruchirappalli, Tamilnadu.
𝙈𝘼𝙍𝙄𝙊’𝙎 𝘼𝙈𝘽𝙄𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉:
To impart the beautiful game of football to the youth whose talents are not very often discovered.
𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 
𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗼! 𝗪𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀. 
𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗼! 𝗪𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀.