Life in this world, with all its joys and difficulties, pleasures and pains, is not made to last forever. We make new friends, we lose old ones. We move to different places or the neighborhood itself undergoes a change.
Loss and gain alike touches us with sadness, reminding us that nothing here in this world is permanent.
The death of two well-known personalities in the past two days – both ex-Kuwaitkars, and great footballers, has left many of us speechless.
Both Alcantra Barretto (Navelim) and Cajetan Godinho (Majorda) were great athletes and ambassadors of football.
ALCANTRA BARRETTO – DIED 24TH FEBRUARY
One of the most respected footballers from Navelim, Alcantra Barretto played as a defender for Goa and Salgaocar Sports Club in the late 70s and early 80s.
Alcantra’s popular sliding tackles were mentioned all throughout the Salgaocar batches.
During his time in Kuwait in the late 80s and early 90s, Alcantra was one of the most feared defenders of his time.
In the year 1994~95, Alcantra was conferred the prestigious 'ATHLETE OF THE YEAR' award instituted by CRC Chinchinim given to an Indian footballer in recognition of outstanding sportsmanship.
Alcantra, who was 80 years old, was laid to rest at Our Lady of Rosary Church, Navelim on 26th February 2019.
CAJETAN GODINHO – DIED 26TH FEBRUARY 2019
Apparently, Cajetan met with a motorbike accident at Majorda on the night of 22nd February and succumbed to injuries.
After retiring from Habchi Chalhoub Group at the end of 2016, Cajetan was enjoying his life in Goa when the inevitable happened.
Cajetan Godinho played on Kuwait’s famous Soor Grounds since the inception of competitive football in 1979.
In the year 2001, Cajetan was awarded 'ATHLETE OF THE YEAR' by CRC Chinchinim.
Among few players to have played in Kuwait for over 30 years, Cajetan was known for his discipline and clean game. He has a record of never taking a single yellow or red card in his entire football career. He played in the central midfield position and was known for his bullet free-kicks.
Cajetan is survived by wife Joyce Godinho, and 2 sons Clive and Cedric both working in Dubai.
Cajetan was very fond of writing Konkani poetry. One of his poems ‘JIVIT ANI XEVOTT’ can be found on Cajetan’s facebook timeline.
FUNERAL
Cajetan’s funeral cortege will leave his residence for Mother of God (Mae De Deus) Church, Majorda on 01st March 2019 at 10:00am.
CAJETAN’S FOOTBALL PROFILE
- Captained A.A. de Majorda for 4 years
- Joined MPT - Goa as a player but soon left and went on to work in Kuwait.
- 1979 -1995 – Captained Goan Sport Club.
- First captain to win the first ever expatriate Indian Football tournament organized by United Goans Club in Kuwait.
- Played for GOA Maroons, UFC, Betalbatim Majorda Club (BMC), Veterans United, Ave Maria and Navelim since 1995 in the KIFF organized J.P. Memorial League.
- Played for Navelim in the 2002-03 season.
- Cajetan was especially praised by Brazilian trainer Carlos Alberto Pereira for his excellent game when the former Kuwait National Team trainer attended the final as chief guest at Soor Grounds.
- Free kick specialist and has scored many times off corner kicks and even from the centre of the field.
- Cajetan was equally strong with both legs.
- Captained the first Goan Selection in Kuwait against Kerala XI – the first ever Indian Expatriates match.
- Played for Goa XI, Kuwait against Bahrain Goans; and Kerala XI in Manama.
- Played for KIFF XI Selection against Kuwait’s Al Arabi Sports Club and was awarded by KIFF with a Fair Play Trophy.
- Was awarded ‘Athlete of the Year’ in 2001 by Clube Recreative de Chinchinim.
MAY THE SOUL OF THESE TWO GREAT ATHLETES REST IN PEACE.