Baobab touring team to Europe: Standing L to R: Iftikar Malik, Robert Minnis, James Kraft, Om Prakash Rattan, Mwinyi Boko, Angelo Dsouza (Sana), Albert Diniz, James Braganza, Job Odindo, Tony DaSilva, Reynolds Pereira, Josh Olum.
Squatting:Victor Mwapaga, Tony Castanha, Said Mbarak Digeil, Raphael Fernandes, Harish Asodia and Nashon Randiek.
BAOBAB HOCKEY MEET IN SANA TOURNAMENT
AFTER 40 YEARS OF WINNING THE GOLD
CUP –
By Said Mbarak Al Digeil
The
weekend of 20/21 October will witness a large gathering of hockey fraternity in
Mombasa. It will include ex-players and their families coming from all corners
of the world – Canada, Dubai, Seychelles, U.K and the USA - to join those in
Kenya for the 40th Anniversary celebration since Baobab Hockey Club became the
only Club at the Coast to win the much coveted MR De Souza Gold Cup. The
tournament is the culmination of efforts of the organising committee led by the
Olympian Raphael Fernandes and various sponsors, notably the Ex-CHA/Baobab
Secretary and national goalkeeper Said Mbarak Al Digeil who provided trophies
and medals during all the tournaments of the past eight years
Hockey
is a popular game in Kenya and is hugely played at various levels in schools
and Clubs. Kenya was an Olympics playing nation for a very long time, and had at
one time, reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in the 60’s
At club
level, hockey was largely dominated by two communities - Sikhs and Goans - who
competed for all the major trophies in the Country. This trend was interrupted
when Baobab Hockey Club was formed in 1974 by employees of Bamburi Cement
Company - The Late Angelo DeSouza (Chairman), Albert Diniz (Vice Chairman),
Said Digeil (Secretary), Alfie DeSouza (Treasurer), Iftikhar Malik (Captain).
The
Club hailed National Players for the Kenya team that included Late Reynolds
Pereira (Olympian), Raphael Fernandes (Olympian), Said Digeil, Randiek Nashon,
Patrick Martins, James Braganza, George Ochieng and Michael Katana. Indeed
Raphael and Said individual outstanding performances were awarded the Kenya’s
Hockey Player of the Year for 1978 and 1979 respectively.
Hockey
being a team game also produced some outstanding players in their own right. It
included Tony Castanha (the scorer of the lone goal in Gold Cup win), Tom
Bockle (popularly referred as the machine of the team), Randiek, Mwinyi,
Omprakash, Victor, Joash, Hamid, James, Harish.
Baobab
made overseas trips to Germany, UK and Canada. The team had the high honor
to play an exhibition game for his Excellency President of Kenya, at his
Kabarak Home.
Apart
from the Gold Cup, Baobab won most of the local tournaments, as well as the
Kishan Singh Cup in Nairobi and Mapinduzi Cup in Dar es Salaam.
The
Club success is also credit to the supporters and well-wishers of the club.
Baobab will always appreciate the unconditional support given by the Late
Hardev Singh Kular, Pindi Tamana and Dr. Sur, through their respective KHU and
CHA.
Perhaps
two individuals are worth mentioning who made immense contribution to the team
success and spirit that prevails to this day.
Bamburi
Cement were the main sponsors of the Club. The Company Managing Director, Late
Mr. Roberts was a big supporter of the club, whose encouragement and financial
support, motivated the team to attain high honors. The performance and the
discipline of the team pleased Mr. Roberts and Bamburi management and the impact
this had on the overall Company’s contribution to corporate social
responsibility.
However,
much of the credit for the success and keeping the team disciplined, was the
personal effort of the Manager, the Late Agnelo DeSouza, popularly known as
Sana. This weekend will witness the 8th Edition of the Tournament in
memory of this great manager. The annual event will this year reach its peak
when teams from all over the Country will be meeting to compete for the Trophy
and to enjoy the Saturday night Reunion Swahili Dinner.
Sana
was the face of the Club. Sana’s management style managed to keep the team
together, sorted problems between players and attended to any special needs for
the team. He was indeed the driving force for Baobab to win the very many trophies.
Apart from Baobab, Sana also managed the Coast and National Teams
During
the next weekend, Baobab will be celebrating the past glories and triumphs, and
will reminiscence the nostalgic days to renew the Baobab spirit. Baobab team
has been closely knit together and are in regular contact through the various
social platforms. No doubt, the past has bonded the team together in a way that
the individuals see themselves as one family.
The
weekend will be an opportunity to remember the team’s fallen heroes, Sana,
Reynolds, Zahoor, Shabaan, Joab and Raymond. Their departure will be missed
immensely.
Sana’s
daughter (Maureen) who has grown with the team since birth, continues to shine
the light on her father’s behalf.
To
quote Iftikhar Malik, a founding member and the first captain of the team, “little
did I imagine one day after 40 years, we will get together for a reunion of our
players and supporters who have been moved to different part of the world. Just
goes to show our love for each other”
With
thanks to Coastweek
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