Early morning on August 27, Goa received sombre news.
Francisco Monte Cruz, Goa’s former sports minister had passed away.
In his 79 years and a decade-long representation from 1979 as Benaulim MLA in the Rane Government, Monte Cruz departed leaving significant contributions of which the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, is an outstanding gift for Goa’s fancied world of sports, mostly football, the impact of which will be felt for years.
‘Monte’, as he was known was a politician best remembered for his ‘can do’ approach.
Having walked the talk and in the winter of his life, he had been away from the spotlight. His comeback attempt in 2002 on an UGDP party ticket sporting the two leaves symbol was futile.
Ironically, Monte who uplifted Fatorda was not voted to power from the newly drafted constituency.
Of Goa’s post Liberation politicians, Monte, a ‘Son of Salcete’, attained legendary status and leaves behind his legacy of Goa’s first International stadium (1989) built in record 180 days, his testimony of love for Goa’s sports.
Goans display uplifted sense of sportsmanship and the remarkable accomplishment of Monte gained him cult status in a football crazy State and whenever Goans culminate at Fatorda, there is always a tribute to Monte.
For Goa - today and beyond, Monte, with his futuristic vision keeps behind a profound legacy of an excellent sports minister in one of Rane’s last governments which uplifts Goa’s sports dreams despite hurdles and poor handling of the sports ministry including shoddy maintenance of the once magnificent stadium.
The dream to present in Xashtti, a top stadium was a chanceless effort by Monte, driven by sheer passion for football.
Buoyed by this, he pursued the dream of completing the multi sports stadium, to host big sports galas that would change Goa’s fame, which till then was famous for beach tourism.
The recurring benefits of Monte’s big offer to Goa’s sports heritage will be reaped by Goa’s gen next and its impact felt till the stadium stands.
Thus, Monte displayed ahead-of-his-times mastery and craftsmanship when Goans only envied football at Salt Lake, Kolkata and Cooperage, Mumbai, fans often travelled chasing Goa’s football fortunes.
As a Loyalite, I remember open spaces where schools had sports and then the construction of the stadium followed there.
Until then, Tilak, Vasco, Dr Rajendra Prasad, Margao and Campal, Panjim were hotspots where Goa’s football talents took shape in not so friendly conditions.
With the thought in the sports ministry of a stadium gaining momentum, things moved.
CM Rane, Goa’s longest serving Chief Minister, got into the act. Collaborating with Monte, he gave him a carte blanche to go full throttle to ensure Goa got its dream stadium.
By then, the Rane-Monte combine became folklore; the stadium gossip ruled every tinto. It fascinated children who got opportunities to perform during the opening ceremony on the new green grass.
The Goa of 80s was sussegad, Monte’s style of workmanship was challenging and critics doubted it.
As school kids, keen to observe the ongoings, we cycled to Fatorda to witness the activity, round-the-clock, different and a sight to behold.
Goans travelled from far to watch the stadium construction.
Public gathered outside would testify witnessing a busy bee Monte, safety helmet in tow ensuing team work, shouting instructions, reviewing tasks and praising well done jobs.
At site, the minister, created a non ac, makeshift office covered with asbestos sheets, a table and chair and an earthen water pot.
Here, new plans and strategies got brainstormed; architects, engineers and labour contractors gave orders to ensure quality work was completed within deadlines.
It was a chanceless effort by a minister who was a successful businessman.
With mounting fear of deadlines, CM Rane reviewed the progress constantly.
Under CM Rane, Monte and his team authorized with a mission fuelled by passions worked persevering day and night to deliver with a lot of sacrifices including forfeiting family time.
After defying odds and making critics bite dust; the Rane-Monte partnership delivered, dedicating the stadium to Goa, in its 28th year of Liberation, after two years of attaining Statehood (1987).
The timely release of grants by Central Government helped.
Then, technology and infrastructure was not modernised like today and work was more manual.
The enterprise reflects on integrity and dedication of Monte.
Shortly, Goans watched international football through Nehru Cup, where India played Poland in a glittering stadium full to its 19,000 plus 1,000 reserve capacity, which has increased now.
By then, Doordarshan’s Goa operations began.
Later in 1989, the ‘football only’ stadium hosted Cricket ODIs.
Fatorda has hosted Australia, New Zealand, West Indies, England, etc, ensuing Goans witnessed Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar, Courtney Walsh and others.
Top Goan clubs like Dempo, Salgaocar, Vasco, Churchill and Sporting call the stadium - home ground.
F C Goa lists the stadium as their native.
With time called, Monte exits leaving behind an epic trophy; a fitting tribute to Monte would be naming the West Stand as ‘Rane-Monte Cruz Stand’, honouring him at the hands of former CM Rane, who together crafted the stadium.
May the legacy of Monte be fondly cherished and propel Goa’s sports to higher triumphs.
(The writer is a Margao-based journalist, former sports news reader at AIR, Panjim, has followed Monte Cruz through the construction of the stadium and voiced football commentary at the National Games recently)