GUILHERME ALMEIDA
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: One was a goalkeeper, the other a defender and the third one a midfielder. The trio once donned colours for the now defunct-MRF football team and shared perfect understanding on the playing field as they defended their citadel.
Call it a sheer coincidence or otherwise, these footballers of yesteryears are now holding the Navelim fort having made forays in the turbulent political waters this year.
While goalkeeper Avertano Furtado rose to become an MLA and Minister, midfielder Frank Fernandes and defender Duarte Pires are presiding over the Panchayat affairs of the twin villages of Navelim and Telaulim respectively.
Ask them, and the trio admits that their foray into politics was not a planned one, having thrown their hat in the ring with blessings of their friends and supporters. Says Avertano: “We were close friends right from our playing days till date. During my election, they worked hard for my success. And, I stood by Frank and Duarte in the Panchayat polls that followed. Together, we want to do something good for Navelim and its people”.
Both the Navelim Sarpanch Frank and his Telaulim counterpart Duarte had worked overseas before returning back to their villages for good. While Duarte is into the business of earth moving machinery, Frank returned to his homeland only six months ago having worked in Bermuda for nearly a decade now.
Says Frank: “After my return, I rallied behind my longtime friend Avertano as the Assembly election scene was hotting up. My friends and youth requested me to contest the Panchayat polls. Nothing was planned and everything happened just like that”.
Frank feels that his election as Navelim Sarpanch will help in the implementation of the promises and assurances made to the people during the Assembly polls. “Together, we can do a lot for the people”, he said, while saying that the Panchayat along with the Navelim MLA will accord top most priority for the waste problem facing the village.
His Telaulim counterpart, Duarte says that he was pushed into Panchayat politics by the local youth. Asked about his plans for the village, Duarte says that water supply to Telaulim needs to be improved and plans to put in place a full-fledged ground for the village youth with cooperation and support from his friend and local MLA Avertano Furtado.