Goa’s Melroy Fernandes on trail for Casa de Portugal Macau football club


Goa’s Melroy Fernandes on trail for Casa de Portugal Macau football club

By Armstrong Vaz
Career opportunities sometimes spring up from out of the blue and from the most unlikely places. That’s what is happening to 20-year-old Melroy Fernandes. The promising Goa junior goalkeeper is in Macau is on a two-month visit to train with Casa de Portugal, Macau football club.
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The Dramapur-village boy, from South Goa, has been with Churchill bros, the former I-league champions, since last season and has had been an understudy to two other goalkeepers.

But all that has changed this season for Melroy. Instead of sunny shores of Goa he is now burning calories on the football fields in Macau. He is getting ready to play in exhibition matches called Bolinha, which takes place when the Divisao 1 (first division) takes a break.

If things go according to a plan and if the club is happy about his performance in the Bolinha then Melroy may end up signing for the club next season.

The Bolinha, is composed of two groups A and B and in each group there are 8 teams.
Macau and Hong Kong are the two special administrative regions of China, while Macau has been likened to Asia's Las Vegas, for its casinos.

Campeonato da 1ª Divisão do Futebol is the top division of the Macau Football Association, created in 1973. As with the Hong Kong First Division League, it is separate from the mainland Chinese football league system, including the Chinese Super League and leagues below it.

Melroy is not new to Macau club players and coach Jose Martins (Pele).  The former Salgaocar U-16 and U-18 did duty for the Macau club when they were in Goa last year for an exhibition tournament organized by Vasco Sports club in honour of its patron Late Limao Leitao.

Melroy services were sought by the visiting Macau team as they were without their regular goalkeeper. He excelled between the posts despite the loss of Casa de Portugal. His performance earned praise from coach Jose Martins.

But more surprise awaited Melroy when coach Pele inquired from him whether he will be interested in playing for the Macau club next season.

Melroy recalls: “I just got this chance to visit them when they first saw me in Vasco when I played for them in an exhibition match against Vasco Sports Club, so they called me to visit Macau.”

Melroy, thus becomes the first player from Goa and India to play in Macau. The Macau League which is contested by players from Mali, Brazil, Timor, Cameron and Nigeria.

Like Goa, Brazil, Timor and Macau were former Portuguese colony and a lot of Lusofonia influence is also reflected in the local leagues.

Besides Casa de Portugal, the other teams which have Portuguese sounding names are S.L. Benfica de Macau, C.D. Monte Carlo, F.C. Porto de Macau and Polícia de Segurança Pública

The other teams in the First Division league are G.D. Lam Pak, Hong Ngai, Kuan Tai, Lam Ieng, MFA Develop and Windsor Arch Ka I

Casa de Portugal – (Portugual House) will be Melroy’s home for the next two months when Casa de Portugal will play exhibition matches in the Bolinha seven-a-side matches.

Casa de Portugal coach, Pele says Melroy is in Macau on a visit trip.

“I am coach of Portugal House Macau; this is the third year, I have taken them from fourth division to second division.  Last year I lost the second division league because I did not have a good goalkeeper.  I have  take Melroy to play in an exhibition 7-a-side first division which is beginning this month. I want him (Melroy) to help me, if he likes Macau, then; I want him to come in January and help our club to be a winner in the second division league.”

"Bolinha is more important league in Macau, ever Chinese love this league. I won Bolinha title three times as a player when I play for Negro Rubro and Lam Pak. I hope now Melroy help me to win again, but as coach.”

Pele who hails from Sao Tome Principe in West Africa is not new to Goans and Goan football, having played for Vasco Sports when they featured in the National League now re-christened as I-league.


“Last year I bring my team in Goa for a tribute to Mr. Noel, I never forget him. My dream is put Vasco in First Division League of India (I-League) India football champion and Asian.”

“Pele is a lover of Goa, its people and cuisine which he enjoyed during his stint with Vasco Sports Club,” recalls Macau-based Goan Bernard Colaco.
Colaco is hoping if Melroy find favours with the Macau club and signs on the dotted line for a full contract it will open more doors for Goan in football in other Asian countries.
 
“I wish him well. May his arrival pave the way for some more young Goans to make forays in other Asian countries and elsewhere.

The only concern regarding Macau football is the standard of football is not high.  Many of the games end up in fights because of poor refeering.




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