In 100 years, 22 Goans have played for East Bengal, but why have only Alvito and Cavin succeeded?

PANAJI: Kolkata can be a crazy place for footballers.
Ask Franky Barreto.
Among the first to leave Goan shores and don colours for East Bengal in 1998, Franky struggled for a while to adapt to the new environment, and by the time he had found his footing, it was time to return to Goa.
“The key to success in Kolkata is how you handle the pressure. People can be crazy; they can fall at your feet one day and the same fans can spit on your face when things go wrong,” said Franky, who was lured to Kolkata after his stellar role for Salgaocar SC in that memorable Federation Cup final win against East Bengal in 1997.
Franky spent only a year at East Bengal – now into its centenary year -- but had returned to Salgaocar with happy memories.More importantly, he had banished talk that Kolkata clubs bought players only to weaken Goan opposition and then left them on the bench.
Such talk gained credence ever since Francis D’Souza became the first footballer from Goa to join Mohun Bagan in 1979 and Joseph Machado, the magician from Daman, moved to East Bengal from Dempo Sports Club in 1981. Neither of them could succeed in Kolkata, providing ample proof that Goans were better off at home. Until one man changed everything: Alvito D’Cunha.
“When I signed for East Bengal (in 2002), I was clear that I would spend only a year here and then return,” said Alvito.
Once in Kolkata, Alvito started the counting game. If a year has 365 days, he would start the clock with “364 days to go,” playing in his mind. Then 363, 362, 361 and it wasn’t long before he lost count.
His focus, after all, was on the ground where a terrific East Bengal squad was winning everything before them. East Bengal won the Calcutta Football League, Durand Cup, Rovers Cup, Independence Day Cup and finally the National Football League. It was a dream start for Alvito in Kolkata, but it wasn’t until the penultimate match of the NFL that changed him forever.
“I remember we were playing Vasco and needed a win to become champions.
We won 4-0. As I stepped out, the fans touched my feet, hugged me, chanted my name. Many of them had tears of joy. I thought to myself, ‘where would I get so much of adulation.’ It’s only at East Bengal that you can experience something like this. I decided never again to play for any other club,” said Alvito.
The NFL triumph was not a first for Alvito. The magical left-footed midfielder had won the league with Salgaocar but the open-bus parade from the airport to Vasco paled in comparison to what he experienced in Kolkata. Then in 2003, ASEAN Cup happened, and having scored a goal in the final, he was blown over by the reception at the airport.
He hasn’t left the club since, retiring as a player in 2013 and then taking up several positions at East Bengal.
So, why did others fail when Alvito succeeded? After all, there are 22 Goans who have played for East Bengal with Ronaldo Oliveira starting his innings this season.
“It’s like a relay where the start matters the most. If you get a good lead, you can win the relay. In Kolkata, the first year is very important. For me, it was excellent, and I never looked back after that,” said Alvito.
Internationals Climax Lawrence and Mahesh Gawli, too, got good starts at East Bengal but chose to return home. Many others – Selwyn Fernandes, Bernard Pires, Fredy Mascarenhas, Riston Rodrigues to name a few – didn’t have the temperament, while others like Rowllin Borges, Romeo Fernandes and Richard Costa, although talented, were left with no choice.
“I’ve loved Kolkata. There is more pressure, but the support from fans and management is unbelievable. I enjoyed the six years that I spent at East Bengal,” said Cavin Lobo.
Cavin was loved in good measure at East Bengal during his time there but chose to turn his back on the club, and captaincy, as he switched allegiance to ATK in the Indian Super League (ISL) last season. “Now it looks like a bad decision (to turn down captaincy) but I wanted to play in the ISL,” he explained.
Alvito said Cavin will “regret the decision to turn down East Bengal captaincy for the rest of his life.” After all, not every Goan who has played in Kolkata has his luck at the Mecca of Indian football.
GOANS AT EAST BENGAL
1981 |*Joseph Machado (Daman)
1998 | Franky Barreto
2002-2013 | Alvito D’Cunha
2003 | Mahesh Gawli
2004 | Sellwyn Fernandes, Climax Lawrence
2005-06 | Covan Lawrence
2005 | Bernard Pires
2006 | Fredy Mascarenhas, Vincent Pires, Bibiano Fernandes
2009 | Riston Rodrigues
2011-12 | Branco Cardozo
2012-2018 | Cavin Lobo
2013-15 | Joaquim Abranches
2014-2017 | Luis Barreto
2014 | Tyson Caiado
2016 | Rowllin Borges, Romeo Fernandes
2017 | Richard Costa, Gabriel Fernandes
2019 | Ronaldo Oliveira
Coach | Armando Colaco (2014-15)
* Daman was part of UT Goa and Diu
(Compiled by Gautam Roy)