MARGAO
The Association for the Wellbeing of Elder Sportspersons (AWES) organised a multi-sport festival and get-together on Sunday that saw the felicitation of over 40 sportspersons, aged 80 and above, for their contribution to sports.
While football and athletics events for elder sportspersons were held at the Sinquetim sports complex, Navelim, the BPS Sports Club in Margao saw yesteryear stars in table tennis, badminton and tennis action. Several sportspersons from across the State took part in the sports festival and then got together at the BPS Sports Club for fellowship and felicitation.
Shaji Prabhakaran, secretary general of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), was present for the felicitation and appreciated the unique efforts of the organisers to get elder sportspersons together and recognise their contribution to sports.
Earlier in his welcome address, AWES president Derrick Pereira, who himself took part in the football event, said the organisation was pleased to see heroes who had inspired a generation. “Every time we meet, my heart fills with immense joy and pride. Joy at seeing all of you share memories and smiles. And pride at the fact that we at AWES have managed to get all of you together,” said Pereira, a former India defender.
Former players, officials and administrators from several disciplines were felicitated at the hands of Prabhakaran, Caitano Fernandes, president of Goa Football Association and principal sponsor, Padma Shri Brahmanand Shankhwalkar, Avertano Furtado, president of Enfermos SC, and Santosh George, president of BPS Sports Club.
Those felicitated include Avinash Raiturkar, Manohar Netravalkar, Menino Figueiredo, George Rosemond, Inacio Fernandes, Socorro Coutinho, Nicholas Fernandes, Benzinho Fernandes, Avinder Singh, Suresh Kudchadkar, Bismark Gonsalves, Alfredo Correia, Pandari Naik, Socrates Carvalho, Juliao Rodrigues, Bernadino Velho, Cyril D’Cunha, Felix Afonso, Andrew Rodrigues, Prabhakar Sinari, BC Sirvoicar, Franco Gouveia, Joaquim F. Soares, Peter Caetano Fernandes, Zephyrus Mascarenhas, Minguel Rebelo, Edmundo Miranda, Caetano Mascarenhas, Alvaro Pinho, Kishore Angley, Levino Dias, Dr Sicletica Rebelo, Rene Costa, Jacinto B Miranda, Fr Jose Roque Gonsalves, Fr Avinash Rebelo, VV Vernekar, Stella Albuquerque, Lawrence Afonso, Joao Baptista Ferrao and Maria Imelda D’Sousa.
