PANJIM: Goan football legend and the State’s first international Visitacao Lobo passed away this morning, at age 67, in his sleep at his residence, in a picturesque village of Parra.
Visitacao, who was suffering a heart ailment kept himself busy visiting inter-villages matches. That was his cup of tea which made his day.
Over the last couple of months, he kept himself confined within the parameters of his home. The fleet footed Visitacao leaves behind his wife Vincentia Jeoripa Lobo, and two sons Brendon and Belton.
As India earned her independence, a football star was born in Goa, on July 2, 1947 – and he was named Visitacao.
The indomitable Visitacao, a master of ball possession, was the first ever international footballer from his beloved Goa to represent the country. Visitacao began his career way back in 1962-63, donning colours for Asitos Saldanha SC, while studying at Sacred Heart High School, Parra, Bardez. People believed that he was not an average footballer but a talent that could do Goa proud. And so, after serving Asitos Saldanha for two seasons, he moved to the famous Benefica Football Club.
Although, he did score around 17 goals that season for Benfica, his honeymoon did not last long. Sesa Goa lured him with a job.
In 1966, Visitacao joined Sesa Goa and after 20 glorious years of football in 1983, he finally hung his boots.
At the time, Visitacao joined Sesa, the club was languishing in the Second Division and his unmatched scoring prowess pushed Sesa into the First Division, taking the might of Salgaocar Sports Club and Dempo Sports Club.
His dream run with Sesa continued in the First Division where Visitacao led a Sesa Goa team that had no coach, to crown themselves champions.
Visitacao got his first break to represent his beloved Goa at the Senior National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy in 1968, at Bangalore and since then for almost a decade he was a regular member of the State team until the 1972 Goa Nationals.
His memorable performance at 1969 Assam Nationals, wherein Goa thrashed Kerala 7-1, caught the attention of the National selectors. Though, Visitacao played for just half-an-hour, he scored four-goals in a row.
Scoring came so easily to Visitacao that there’s never been a single season wherein he did not score above 10 goals.
His performance at Assam Nationals impressed the National selectors, who selected him to represent India at the Goodwill Tour to Russia in 1970, making him Goa’s first international.
Sadly, Visitacao could not represent India for a second time. He went to the India selection camp for the pre-Olympics qualifiers but a mysterious illness prevented him from representing India again.
Visitacao continued to make waves in Indian football and Mahindra and Mahindra tempted him with an offer, but Visitacao refused to venture outside his State and preferred to ply his trade in Goa, his land he loved so much.
Visitacao was football’s second recipient of the State’s highest Sports Award – the Bakshi Bahaddar Jivbadada Kerkar Award – 1973-74. He would have been the first ever recipient of the award as the Goa Football Association (GFA) had proposed his name but Goa’s first Chief Minister, late Dayanand Bandodkar who was very fond of football suggested Bernard Pereira should get the honour.
Visitacao will be laid to rest on July 2, on his birthday, at Parra Parish Church and the entire football fraternity is expected to pay respect the great son of the soil. They had no money but they had passion that ignited the path for today’s generation. Herald salutes this fleet footed gentleman of football.
