Dr Victor Pinheiro was the first Goan to earn a degree in Sport and Physical Education from the Lakshmibai National College of Sport and Physical Education at Gwalior
A young Victor Pinheiro representing St Anthony's High School, Monte de Guirim, won the All Goa Inter-school Individual Championship in Athletics (1974-75).
Winning multiple awards in athletics, hockey, football, volleyball and Kho-Kho may be a significant achievement to most, but Dr Victor Pinheiro has been more than just a sports star.
He was the first Goan to earn a degree in sport and physical education from Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education (LNIPE), Gwalior campus and went on to become Professor Emeritus/Director of the School of Sport Science and Wellness Education in the College of Health Professions at The University of Akron in Ohio-USA.
Now retired after 32 years of productive service, which includes an impressive dossier of accomplishments, Dr Pinheiro currently resides in Summit County, Ohio, along with his wife, Fatima, and children, Ryan and Amanda.
SPORTS IN SCHOOL
Victor Pinheiro lived in Vasco and Raia during his early childhood years and began to shine as a sportsperson.
“During my years in St Anthony’s High School, Monte de Guirim, I was merited the title of ‘Best Sportsman’ (1973-74 and 1974-75). I was a member of the junior football team, inter-school champions, which represented Goa at Delhi for the Subroto Mukerjee Cup tournament (1972-73),” recalls Dr Pinheiro.
He was a regular member of the senior football team from 1973 to 1975 and captained the team in 1973-74, which won many tournaments in Goa.
“Additionally, I represented Goa in Junior Nehru Hockey Tournament in Delhi. I was also a regular member of the School’s Kho-Kho team that was Inter-school and All Goa winners, 1972 to 1975.”
It was in athletics that Dr Pinheiro also excelled as a member of the school athletic team (1972-1975) and captain of the team (1973-1975).
“I won the All-Goa Inter-School Individual Championship in Athletics (1974-75), silver medal in 300m hurdles and high jump (juniors) in All India C.P.M. Open Athletic meet Bangalore (1973), he said.
SPORTS IN COLLEGE
Dr Pinheiro graduated high school (1975) from Monte de Guirim, and then did his first year in science (1976) from St Xavier’s College, Mapusa.
“While in St Xavier’s College, Mapusa, during my first-year science courses, I was considered a very good all-round sportsman representing the college in the Goa inter-collegiate tournaments in volleyball, football and athletics. I won many individual medals in athletics.”
“I also represented Mormugao Port Trust and won silver medal in high jump at All India Major Ports Athletic Meet, Visakhapatnam (1979).”
Dr Pinheiro went on to complete his Bachelors and Masters of Sport and Physical Education (1980; 1983) from Lakshmibai National College of Sport and Physical Education (LNCPE) of Jiwaji University at Gwalior, MP.
“At the LNCPE, I represented the university in athletics and football. We won football at the West Zone Championships (1979-1981). I was also a member of the Jiwaji University’s football team that won third place in All India Inter University Football Tournament organised by Association of Indian Universities (1978),” said Dr Pinheiro.
“I captained the West Zone Combined Universities Coaching-cum-Competition programme in Football organised by Osmania University, Hyderabad, under the auspices of the Association of Indian Universities (1980). I also won the All-India National Award competition in Physical Efficiency at Kolhapur (1979) in the category of men senior division.”
Dr Pinheiro specialised in Athletics for his undergraduate degree. As part of the ‘Football Specialisation’ for his master’s degree in Gwalior, he had to select a sport to concentrate (specialise) as a part of the curriculum in the science of football in coaching. The course included students from Fiji, Tibet and Mauritius.
Victor Pinheiro (standing first right) during a football specialisation programme in Gwalior (1979) along with other international students from Fiji, Tibet and Mauritius.
“It was an intensive course dealing with advance tactical/technical methods of training along with biomechanics, sport psychology, periodisation, and learning the pedagogy of teaching /coaching,” he said.
Incidentally, Dr Pinheiro was the first Goan to earn a degree in Sport and Physical Education from LNCPE, Gwalior.
CAREER IN SPORTS
After graduation, Dr Pinheiro secured his first job with the Directorate of Sports and Cultural Affairs in Goa, as Assistant Secretary of Daman & Diu State Council of Sports.
“I was directly overseeing the day-to-day operations of the council, implementing the national schemes approved by the government of India of granting funding for sports clubs and villages for the development of stadiums/playing fields.”
“I also provided leadership to conduct sports coaching camps throughout Goa. Through the various sports associations in Goa, the Council provided grants to send teams to participate in the national games of India.”
Dr Pinheiro then moved to the USA to pursue his Doctorate in Sport Pedagogy/Biomechanics (1989) from the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
