Silent Assailant, Dedicated footballer, Disciplined Coach and Humble individual - Mecabeus (Mecca) Rodrigues

A silent assailant on the football field. A dedicated footballer, a disciplined coach and a humble individual is how I know Mecabeus Rodrigues, alias Mecca from his childhood days. My days as a kid, which I shared with him admiring his playing feats on the football field.
I youngster barely in his teens traveling from one village to another with his kit bag in hand for the numerous inter village tournaments. The days when Cana Benaulim Sporting Association football team jargon rolled on. The football jargon, which swept each and every team, that came in their path in the early 90's.
Mecca was part of the awe-inspiring team of Benaulim. His colleagues Hillary Rodrigues, Alfred Fernandes, Antush Ferrao, Constancio Fernandes, Edwin (Willy) Moraes, Consantacio Silva, Fermino Pereira will all testify to the fact that they all would sent shivers down the spines of the rivals with their excellent track in inter village tournaments in Goa.
Mecca played his role, which was assigned, to him to perfection. The predominantly left footed player was inspired by Diego Armando Madonna's antics on the football field. No wonder the Argentinean footballer was his all time favorite player, no discussion no compromises on that count.
He came from the humble beginning of Cana Benaulim where he first kicked the ball around in the paddy fields. He then completed his schoolings at Loyola high school Margao and till then studies where his first priority. Sports and football for that matter took a secondary seat.
All that was to change as he made his advent into the corridors of Damodar College Margao. The shy and introvert personality of Mecca was in for a change as he came under the wings of Damodar college Director of sports Sudhakar Naik.
Mecca created a niche for himself on the football field with his performance on the football field while turning out for Damodar College Margao. His dominance on the football field did not go unnoticed and it was call up to the Bombay university team and a place in the final squad was an icing on the cake for the slim build footballer.
Then followed a call up to the Churchill Brothers Varca.
In between Mecca did not forget his role towards deliverance of pack back time to towards society. He for one was one of the many committed volunteers who slogged day in and day for the completion of the Nehru stadium under the leadership of the then sports minister Francisco Monte De Cruz to complete the stadium in record time of six months.
He then pushed many a footballers from Benaulim for jobs at the stadium and he did not take one himself. Cause, he wanted to be a coach. For that dream to be realized he threaded to Solapur Maharashtra with his sporting shoes in tow. Solapur is where he completed his Physical education course.
He then returned to Goa and Fr. Agnel high school Pilar were fortunate to have such a dedicated and disciplined soldier of sports in their company. His efforts on the sports field were rewarded when pilar school excelled in football, hockey and other sports. Excellent display by the Pilar students under his guidance which won them trips to Delhi for All India tournaments.
The all India tournaments remind me of my own journey to Delhi as a player with Loyola high school team Margao where in Mecca has a stirring influence from the side lines on the school team and more on the personal front for me as a player.
As I pen these lines and more and more recollections and memories of growing up throw up of the past years I for one is grateful to the deep influence he has left on my personality. Mecca's influence has moulded my personality to a large extent. The under lying influence was not just confined to the sporting field but to my academic career.
His encouraging words of advice, picking of technical flaws and reading of his own team and that of his opponents were qualities that were an asset to him. Add to it patience with the young kids. It completed the attributes for a good coach.
Seldom had I had seen him arguing over the referee's decision both as a player and now as a coach and that was the greatest lesson he was imparting to his students. To take bad decisions in your stride and in a sporting spirit.
He had no airs being a player and also a coach and friend of young footballers who came to advice to him.
The death of Mecca is a great loss. A sudden tragedy to his wife and children. A heartbreak for his aged parents, brother and sisters. A void in the hearts of many. Hearts won through love and his service both as a footballer and a human being.
Young Footballers will miss the father figure, friend and an advisor.
Adieus Amigo. May god open the doors of heaven to you for your service to humanity. May your soul rest in peace.

MECABEUS RODRIGUES - former football player of Churchill Brothers SC, youth development coach and physical education teacher at Fr. Agnel high school Pilar died last week at the age of 42 due to Brain Haemorrage.