Margao: At 84, Socorro Coutinho isn’t in the best of health. He needs help while walking, does not remember most of his exploits as a top-notch footballer for Dempo SC and speaks only a few words to those outside his family.




At the annual sports festival, get-together and felicitation function in Sinquetim, Coutinho was the big attraction. Anita Rodrigues can vouch for that.




A retired superintendent of police known best for sports administration and winning international medals as a Masters athlete, she was surprised when the man who represented Goa at the Santosh Trophy for a record 15 years took his seat for the felicitation function, organised by the Association for the Wellbeing of Elder Sportspersons (AWES).




“Isn’t he Socorro Coutinho,” Rodrigues sought to know, looking in amazement at the footballer who started his career with Mocidade de Colva in 1959 and ended with Dempo (1982), with stints at Shantilal Sports Club and Sesa Goa.




Even Bruno Coutinho, a Salgaocar SC legend, was pleased as punch to see his coach from his days at Dempo Engineering (1988-89) when they combined to upset the senior Dempo SC team more than once, even in the top tier of Goan football.




“Once every year, we come together,” said AWES vice president Vinod Parkkot in his welcome address. “For the last couple of years, we are having games too. It’s wonderful to see our legends play.”




Legends, at least in Goa, do get any bigger than Brahmanand Shankhwalkar .




The first Goan to captain the national team, first Arjuna Award winner, and the only Goan sportsperson to be conferred with the Padma Shri, one of the highest civilian awards of the country, was back on the field, representing Senior Citizens FC North.




“This annual get-together is one of our most cherished initiatives as we bring veteran sportspersons together to relive fond memories, share experiences and renew old friendships,” said Parkkot.




The event brought together former players, officials and administrators, who indulged in a bit of football (men, 7-a-side), volleyball (men and women) and basketball (mixed, 3X3). Athletics remained a major draw as athletes enthusiastically competed in events like 50m run, shot put and 4x50m mixed shuttle relay.




Celebrating its tenth anniversary, AWES felicitated clubs like Associacao Academica de Moira and Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias, who have completed 100 years, while 10 clubs who took part in the first Goan Football League in 1951 and still exist were also honoured.




Guirdolim Club (organising a cycle race without a break for over 50 years), Chandor Club (organisers of Seamen Cup) and Raia Sporting (Custodio Memorial Soccer) were also recognised for their special achievements.




Among individual performers, Dr. Satish Kudchadkar was a big draw. He was joined by allround sportsperson Anthony Fernandes, veteran cyclist Peter Rodrigues, former Crown Club volleyball player Carmo Vaz, long-distance runner Apu Rajan and long-serving office bearer of Calangute Association, Gajanan Salkar.