This June, as the Portuguese football team walks on to the turf in South Africa, its Portuguese supporters will not be alone in their revelry. Also cheering the team on will be most of the Goan population of Mumbai, happy to lend some support to their overseas cousins.
Luiz Gomes, the family patriarch, and a resident of Amboli, Andheri (East), says, “I’ve been supporting Portugal since I was a baby. We are from Goa and football is in our blood. In most Goan villages like mine (Scraulin village), there is nothing to play except football.” He adds, “We were ruled by the Portuguese for 400-odd years, and hence, we are conditioned to speak the language. Even though less than 10% of Goan families now speak Portuguese, most Goans support Portugal.”
Asked if he was ever tempted to switch loyalties to another team, he quips, “Yes, Brazil. If Portugal doesn’t reach the finals, then I’ll support Brazil.” Brazil being another Portuguese colony, he explains, he feels connected to it by language. “If India had been playing, we would have definitely supported our country,” he adds.
Does the younger generation share this linguistic connect?
Daughter-in-law Merlyn, not a football fan herself, explains that the children often support other teams, as per player line-ups. Grandson Aaron concurs, and is rooting for Spain this season.
Explaining the kind of football mania back home in Goa, Merlyn describes scenes of bars and pubs being papered with Portugal flags. Gavin Lopez, a priest at Powai’s Holy Trinity Church, recounts similar scenes from a previous tournament, when a big party planned in Goa fizzled out with Portugal’s ouster. “A lot of people lost money in bets, too,” he chuckles.
With relatives in Portugal, and both parents from former Portuguese colonies, both Gavin and his brother support Portugal, even in the UEFA tournaments. With India nowhere on the football scene, almost all Goans support Portugal, Gavin explains.
Portugal’s lacklustre performance sometimes does lead them to support Brazil, he adds. “Even this year, Portugal’s looking strong, but with Brazil you never know. We’ll still be supporting Portugal though.”
Santa Fernandes, a Dadar resident, and a long-time Brazil supporter, asks, then answers his own question, “So, who’s taking the cup? Portugal is. Brazil has become like our Indian cricket team. Top players are missing this season. Can’t take the risk of supporting them this year. Plus, there is a chance for Portugal.” Calling him party-badlu, son Broisten adds that he will be supporting Argentina, reflecting the changing tastes of the younger generation. “We often end up fighting if we are supporting different teams,” he adds.
The Lobo home is resolute in its unwavering support for Portugal, but for varied reasons. Twenty-one-year-old Savio, a business associate with CMC Ltd, counts Cristiano Ronaldo among Portugal’s strengths this year. He has been supporting the team ever since Ronaldo’s inclusion.
His mother, Maria, who’s been hooked on to football ever since she started following the sport 26 years ago, says that Goans worship football. Speaking about their chances this year, she says the team could win if they play well, and adds, half-joking, “do pray for Portugal…”
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