Margao: Francisco Monte Cruz , affectionately known as the ‘beerman’ of Goa, passed away on Tuesday at 79. Monte Cruz, who represented Benaulim for two terms and served as sports minister in the Pratapsing Rane govt in the late 1980s, left an indelible mark on Goa’s political and sports landscape. Monte Cruz’s political journey began in Jan 1980, when he was first elected as an MLA on a Congress ticket, defeating Raul Cardozo of MGP with an impressive 74% vote share.
He was re-elected in 1984, this time defeating Churchill Alemao, who contested as an independent. During his tenure as sports minister, Cruz played a pivotal role in the construction of the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium , Fatorda, which was completed within an astonishing eight months of the laying of its foundation stone. His unwavering commitment to the project enabled Goa to host the prestigious Nehru Cup , an international football tournament, on January 19, 1989.
Cruz’s dedication to the stadium’s construction was unparalleled. He set up a makeshift office at the site, where he would spend countless hours overseeing the progress of the work. Even the loss of his father during this period did not deter him from his mission.
Alberto Colaco, then secretary of the Goa Football Association (GFA), recalled visiting Cruz’s house to offer condolences, only to be met with Cruz’s unwavering focus on the stadium’s completion. The Goa legislative assembly had passed a resolution to name one of the stands at.