CELEBRATING SPORTSMANSHIP

check out the AV – Gokuldas@ 50 by clicking the following link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYAwRRzzJNc

"The purpose of any athletic endeavor is to challenge human limits both on and off the playing field." -Anon

Last Saturday, we celebrated the fiftieth birthday of my brother-in-law.
While in primary school, he saw a football match and was fascinated by the person dribbling with the ball. He wanted to be like that… He wanted to run ahead with the ball and have the rest chase him in vain. The dream was crystallized. Despite disapproving rebukes at home, he continued to play. Punishments turned to patronage as his elder brother noticed the emerging talent.

At the age of 18, he went to Germany to learn social sciences, but ended up acquiring greater love and knowledge for the game. On his return, he joined Sesa Goa and began playing what is termed as the Goculdas style. His speed and skill won him numerous fans. He represented Goa State and was a proactive part of the Santosh trophy victory in 1983.

However, the same year he had a terrible accident on field that forced him off it. But as they say, winners don’t quit! Goculdas reinvented his role as a referee right up to the international FIFA panel. In 2002, he moved on to be Instructor for Referee’s. Thus Goculdas acquired the rare distinction of playing, refereeing and instructing in the game of football.

Goculdas Nagvenkar’s life provides three lessons. The first inspiration comes from his passion that saw him emerge as a player of the highest order. Secondly, when forced to quit he developed a newer role as a referee and there to he excelled. Thirdly and most importantly (unlike most sportsmen) he did not ignore education and is a senior accounts officer of Sesa Goa. The path to one’s dream is best built by developing newer facets to our personality and constantly measuring up to the emerging challenges.

At 50, Goculdas continues to develop new dimensions to his life. His journey reflects his enthusiasm and commitment towards his dream. In a highly competitive world, sportsmanship is not just about morality and habits on the field. Sportsmanship is essentially about the attitude and actions that make a person surge ahead and show the way for others, too.

Sportsmanship is about attitude, values and determination
On and off the play-field, let’s “develop new dimensions”…

Regards
Pravin