MARGAO
Former Sports Minister Francisco Monte Cruz, the man credited for building Goa’s lone stadium of international standard at Fatorda, breathed his last early Tuesday.
He was 79 and is survived by wife Monica (Joanita) Cruz, and children Hema, Hasha, Vijai and Nisha.
His funeral cortege will leave his residence at Pajifond, Margao at 3.30 pm on August 29 to Holy Spirit Church, Margao for Eucharistic celebration at 4 pm followed by burial at the Holy Spirit cemetery.
The two-time former Benaulim MLA holds the distinction for building the imposing Jawaharlal Nehru stadium at Fatorda in a record six months during his stint as sports minister in the 80s.
Monte Cruz is also known for his business acumen and was the man behind creating iconic brands like Kings Beer, Belo beer and Orlim beer. He had also ventured into production of Impala bulbs and tube lights.
Credited for putting Kings beer on the map of Goa, Monte Cruz was also the first to introduce pints.
Sources said he built a state of the art brewery with German machinery in the early 90s and holds the distinction of producing beer in cans not only in Goa, but also in the country.
Family sources pointed out that Monte Cruz was known for paying the highest excise duty in Goa and the brewery he had built is still the second largest brewery in Goa.
He was the first to introduce premix in cans like whiskey soda which was known as Impalas peg soda. His brewery those days produced all the top brands from Kingfisher, Haywards, Sand Piper, Cobra, Zingro etc besides his own brands Kings beer and Belo beer.
On the political front, Monte Cruz started his journey when he was first elected to the Goa Legislative Assembly from Benaulim in 1980 before he rose to become a Minister in the Pratapsingh Rane government. He retained the seat in the 1984 election by defeating Churchill Alemao.
Despite his achievement in building the Nehru stadium at Fatorda in a record time, the Congress party denied the ticket to Monte Cruz in the 1989 election and instead nominated Churchill Alemao on the Congress banner.
Monte Cruz tried to make a political comeback from Benaulim in the 1994 election on the Congress banner after Churchill Alemao contested on the UGDP ticket, but in vain.
