The 14th All Goa Fishing
Competition organised
by United Friends, Panjim at the Captain of Ports Jetty, Panjim on Sunday Oct
24th, restarted after a Covid 19 break in 2020, was held with much fanfare and
a carnavalsque setup along the picturesque River Mandovi promenade near the old
secretariat at Adil Shah Palace, Panjim.
The cloudy and humid Sunday weather did
not deter 165 angling enthusiasts from all parts of Goa and neighbouring
Kholapur and Ratnagiri to come in and try their luck and take a shot at the
mega prizes. “Not many will go home emptyhanded”, said Mc Cedric da
Costa as most participants took home gifts and prizes.
The event was dedicated to late Valerio
D’Silva from Alto Guimaraes who was an avid angling enthusiast and member of
United Friends who was one of the inspirations behind the contest in the
earlier years. This year also saw a large number of child participants as also
lady entrants.
Some of the children and women also won
individual prizes for fishing out fish.
Many families too came along, while some
participated in the contest, others tried to give a firsthand glimpse to their
children and themselves applauded as participants netted the fishes.
Mc Cedric da Costa, Margao, hosted the
event and moderated the humorous fishing debate among the participants, chief
guests and prize distribution.
Most of the guests spoke of being passionate about fishing since
childhood and Chief Guest Sandeep Bharney, said that the thought behind the
fishing contest was to have a healthy competition among the various anglers who
would try their luck along the Mandovi promenade in Panjim, it later became an
all Goa affair and now promises to be All India and beyond in future.
Fr Roque, Tony Dias, Satish Rajmame and Sanjeev Sardessai
participated in a short input session on fishing in Goa and the contest. Most
speakers remembered with nostalgia the days when Goa’s youth would rush to fish
during their spare time, specially during the monsoons.
Chief Guest Sandeep Bharney, a staunch supporter of the fishing
contest from it’s inception, Satish Rajmane of Multiple Taask Holidays Goa,
Tony Dias, Jennifer D’Silva, Widow of late Valerio D’Silva, Sanjeev Sardessai,
noted historian & Fr Roque Costa, Chaplain of St Sebastian Chapel,
Fontainhas, Panjim, gave away the prizes to the participants and winners. The
event was held following Covid 19 protocol and SOPS.
In
his address, Francis thanked the CCP Mayor Rohit Monsoratt and CCP Commissioner
Agnelo AJ Fernandes, for his support to the contest along with PI Panjim Town
Police and North Goa Collector Ajit Roy. The following is the list of prize
winners: The event was co coordinated by Francis Jorge, Samy D’Silva, Peter
D’Silva and others of United Friends Panjim.
