The genius of Mauricio Afonso

The late seventies and early eighties was a time when football players entertained through their mastery in the midfield. It was a period when midfielders dictated the rhythm of the game. The midfielders largely dictated the pace of the game.

Arnold Rodrigues from Salgaocar Sports Club was one such midfielder that comes to mind when the ball is raced back against time. In those days, he was known by many as Inder Singh- such was his repertoire with the ball.

Arnold left Goa all of a sudden and midfield play was left unceremoniously with Dempo Sports Club’s Mauricio Afonso.  That was the era when the flanks were being exploited and the game was constantly switched between the right and left. It was the time when dead ball specialist were being nurtured and Mauricio Afonso was one of the first from the lot.

Mauricio Afonso hails from a hamlet situated between Navelim and Chinchinim. As a youngster he got trained by many Dempo coaches and to most he was an obedient lad ready to learn every trick because, as he said many times, football is his certificate to a happy life. That is why Mauricio tried to make all happy with the way he played.

A lot can be said or written about his exploits on the field. However , there is one that will always be amongst the best because in those days it was the first time a player had rattled Brahamanand  through a set piece.

It was a game between Dempo Sports Club and Salgaocar Sports Club at the Campal stadium. Dempo Sports club were awarded a corner and Mauricio strode forward to take it. That evening his corner hit the horizontal directly and was cleared hastily for another. Three corners and all three times Dempo and Mauricio were denied a goal by the horizontal. It was, for many of us, the first time a player was trying to curl a corner in and the player was Mauricio Afonso. A lot of us saw Brhamnand nervous for the first time too.

That was the genius of Mauricio and if he managed to be a step ahead of his colleagues it was because of the hard work put in by him.

Mauricio Afonso was never and is not the type of man to talk much. He left the talking to his feet and ball. In his peak, Mauricio was poached from Mumbai to Kolkata . He never looked beyond Dempo Sports Club. If football was his life, Dempo SC was his wife and that has remained so till now.

From a great player to an assistant coach to a coach that had the capabilities of reaching greatness  Mauricio has it in him to go the full length .

Mauricio grew up at a time when Indian football was in a pond where the ugly duckling could not be distinguished from the rest. He did play for India many times but a player like him could definitely had done more for the country. It really did not hurt him much because it did not stop him from playing and that was paramount to him.

After retiring as a player, Mauricio worked as assistant coach under many coaches with Dempo SC . There were innumerable days when he alone trained the boys and the coaches would show up on the day of the match. It never really bothered or hurt Mauricio because for him being with the ball and the players was important. In his days, he had learnt how to ceaselessly pass the ball. Now, he was passing what he had learnt.

Mauricio was the type of midfielder who could accelerate or decrease the pace of a game . His understanding of his opponents was so sharp that he could send set Camilo Gonsalves through with a pass that bewildered all. He did not score many goals but he got his teammates to do most of the scoring with his balls.

This was the genius of Mauricio Afonso.

A few years ago, when Dempo Sports Club was relegated to the second division of the I-league , Mauricio took it upon himself as a challenge to get the team back to where he belonged.  He did it easily.

A month ago or so, Mauricio Afonso suffered a stroke. There were days when he looked bad . yet beyond the gloom through his eyes  that opened  popped a ball. A football. Mauricio Afonso has never shied away from responsibilities and as he recovers it is evident he is not going to shy away from a full recovery.

It may take him time. But time is a factor that never worried Mauricio. He was the type to be at the right place, to do the right thing with the ball for himself and his team. This time , football lovers in Goa  will wait for Mauricio Afonso.