Goa: Labour Minister Turns Goalkeeper, Wins match and Hearts of Quepemkars

By Gasper Lewis
Pics Walter Mebezes & Agush Gonsalves
Bellevision Media Network

Goa, 25 April 2012: Some exclusive pictures of Goa’s Labour Minister in action,bringing back memories of the great goalkeeper that he had been, once upon atime!

Two weeks after being inducted in the Cabinet, Avertano Furtado, the unassuming Minister for Labour and Fisheries, showed up at the football ground of Quepem Sports Complex and played for Tilamol-Quepem Veterans in the inaugural charity match of ‘The Clash of the Veterans’ against Chinchinim Veterans on Sunday, 22 April 2012.

 

Praying…Labour Minister with players of Tilamol-Quepem Veterans.

Ivan Coutinho, captain of Tilamol-Quepem Veterans welcomes the Minister with a bouquet.

Feels good to be with the players  again!

With Khell Kala Mogi President Peter Fernandes and Parish Priest Fr Urbano Fernandes before the start of play.

Half-time!

The Minister dives to pull off a great save!

 No! I won’t let that one pass through my hands…a study in concentration.

The Minister is having a ‘ball of a time’!

The Minister shakes hands with players of Chinchinim Veterans.

Rising to the occasion, the Labour Minister proved his mettle as an exceptional goalkeeper pulling off two great saves for Tilamol-Quepem Veterans and helping the team win the match by 4-3 goals. In the process, Avertano Furtado instantly won the hearts of Quepemkars as he rubbed shoulders with the players and mingled with the spectators! The winning team was leading 2-1 at half-time. Egidio D’Costa, Joaquim Dias, Rosario Fernandes and Jose Rbello scored for Tilamol-Quepem Veterans while Elvis Goes, Mario Soares and Piety Leitao netted the goals for Chinchinim Veterans.

‘The Clash of the Veterans’ football charity matches have been organized by Tilamol-based Khell Kala Mogi (KKM) to raise funds to support the family of one of their active members, late Rocy Fernandes who died two months ago in a tragic road accident while on his way to Sarzora. Late Rocy was also a football player.

Peter Fernandes, President of KKM welcomed the guests and players while Rf Urbano Fernandes, the Parish Priest of Our Lady Mother of Poor Church, Tilamol recited a short prayer before the commencement of the match. Labour Minister Avertano Furtado also spoke on the occasion and later donated Rs.10,000/- as his contribution towards the fund. KKM has so far collected more than fifty thousand from well-wishers whose names were announced during the match.

Next charity match will be played on Sunday, 29 April 2012, between Bardez Veterans and Salgaonkar Veterans.