The
star-studded athletes of the Mombasa Goan Institute
From Stars Next Door by Cyprian Fernandes
Meldrita Viegas: She did not know it at the time, but as she
ran each morning to catch the bus to elementary school she was actually
training for a special future: athletics. In those very early days, her friends
were calling her Never Say Die. Her competitive athletics career actually began
in Mombasa at the Sacred Heart High School in the inter-school athletics
meetings. Then there were those special days when the whole of Mombasa it
seemed was abuzz with athletics: GI Easter Sports, Empire Days Sports and the
Coast Championships. The Easter Sports attracted runners from Nairobi and other
parts of Kenya. The competition was fierce. Meldrita competed in the 100 yards,
the 200 yards and the long jump. She also ran the first or anchor leg for the
4X100 yards relay. During her reign as champion for 10 years, Meldrita held the
Coast records for the 100 yards, 200 yards. She also held the Kenya record at
the time for the 100 yards clocking 11.4 seconds. She held both the Coast and
Kenya record for the long jump for a long period. For 10 years she was always
first in each of her three pet events. She retired in 1962 as the Queen of the
Track at the Coast.
Laura Ramos: an outstanding sprinter. Juanita Ramos nee
Noronha: another fine sprinter. Winnie D’Souza: won the Kenya 100 yards in
1956. And there was Phila Fernandes who was also a strong competitor.
Men: Joe Rodrigues: A member of the football team, he
also represented the Coast in athletics. He was holder of the 100 yards record
of 10 seconds. He once equaled the British 100 yards record of 9.6 but it was
not ratified on a time keeping technicality. Bruno De Souza: Main events were
the 440 yards and the 880 yards. Alcino Rodrigues: His pet event was the 440
yards, the quarter mile. Represented the Coast over a long period. Reigned
supreme. Alfred Viana: Held the shot put and discus records at the Coast for
many years. Big moments came when he was represented the Coast in the 1958
Kenya championships and Kenya in the 1957 East Africa Championships. Joe Faria:
Another truly outstanding Coast sprinter. Part of the 4X100 yards relay team at
the Kenya championships in Kisumu. Allan Noronha: First Victor Ludorum at
Mombasa, excelling in the sprints, long jumps, high jump and the triple jump.
44 George Da Costa: Won the mile for three consecutive years. Others who
represented the Mombasa Goan institute included: Eddie Soares, Tony Castanha,
Tito De Souza, Bernie Carvalho, Monte Fernandes and Jos. P. Rodrigues. Hockey
Ladies Laura Ramos: A stunning athlete with speed to burn. She flew down the
left wing for many years. Phila Fernandes: Reckoned to be one of the best.
Began as a centre half but moved to inside right. Great stick work made her a
regular goal scorer. Captained the team. Cybil Caister (nee Correia): A solid
full back. Played for many years. Melissa Pereira (nee Castelino): Played as
centre half or full back for many years. Joanita Ramos (nee Noronha): A very
useful player on the left wing. Bertha Pinto: Centre half, wore the club
colours for many years. Jane Sequeira: Yet another centre half. Wilma De Souza
(nee Nazareth): Full back. Solid for a number of years. Ida Pires: Full back.
Formed an unbeatable back line with various back line players. Winnie De Souza:
A forward for many years. Silvia Fernandes: Centre forward. Hockey Men 1930 –
1940s Maxi Vaz: Half-back: one of the icons of hockey in the 1940s. He played
for the Gold Medal winning Indian team in the London Olympics in 1948. Maxi
played alongside some of the greatest names in Indian hockey history including
Dhyan Chand, Leo Pinto, Walter De Souza, Babu and others. He also played for
what are perhaps the best known Goan hockey teams, the Lusitanians of Mumbai.
Maxi came to Kenya in 1952, and played out his career with the MGI. 45 Benny
Carvalho: Centre half. Another great player in hockey’s history. Captained MGI,
captained Kenya against All India in 1948 and he was loved and respected not
only for his hockey skills but also for the fact that he was a gentleman both
on and off the field. A.B. Rego: All-rounder. Played for the MGI for many
years. 1940s – 1950s Jerome S. Monteiro: Played for MGI for 15 years, captain
for five, the Coast XI and captained against All India 1948. Played for a
Kenya-Uganda XI against Pakistan and against a Tata XI. An all-rounder who
excelled at soccer and cricket as well. Joe T. Rodrigues: All-rounder. Stamina,
speed, great ball control, body swerves, brilliant passing skills, made him a
goal-scoring hockey natural. Michael Pereira: Another of those MI hockey
immortals. Having repped MGI, Coast and Kenya, he had the honour of captaining
all three. He represented Kenya at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia.
Michael also coached the MGI women’s hockey team. Franklyn Pereira: Franklyn
was perhaps the greatest hockey player never to have worn the Kenya colours at
an Olympics. The author of this book had campaigned hard for his selection
without success. Franklyn was a born goal scorer with the dribbling skills
reserved for only the greatest in the game. One example of this came when he
played for East African against a powerful Tata XI: he collected the ball from
the centre of the field, dribbled his way through a host of defenders and
scored a solo goal that etched deeply in the memories of those who saw him play
and the oral history of hockey at the Kenya Coast. In the process of scoring
that solo goal, Franklyn beat the legendary India goalkeeper Leo Pinto.
Brilliant. Walter Castanha: Full back. A tough, hard player who combined with
Wilfred De Souza (Shiri) to build an unbreachable defence. “The ball stays, but
the man does not,” was their motto. He earned every accolade at the Coast and
once came close to national honours. He was reckoned as the best defender of
all time at the Coast. Wilfrid De Souza (Shiri): An attacking full-back also
played for the Coast XI. Remembered for his fine stick work. Albert De Souza:
Known as “Patch”. A fine player. Tony Mascarenhas: A brave and daring player.
MGI, Coast XI. 46 J.N. De Souza: MGI. Remembered for his contributions to the
Easter Sports programme and sport in general. MGI club sports secretary for
many years. Alban Fernandes: Played for Dar es Salaam (1940s-1960s) and the
national team against visiting Indian and Pakistani teams. Represented East
Africa and also captained the team at one stage. In 1965, Alban came to Kenya
where he captained and coached the Coast Xl. On return to Tanzania, he was
appointed National Cricket Coach. In Canada, he was appointed head coach for
the Alberta Junior Team. Nicholas Pereira: Goalkeeper. Captain MGI and played
for the Coast XI against All India. Michael Teixeira: MGI. Captained Uganda and
East Africa against All India and also played against Pakistan Rovers in 1952.
George Da Costa: Centre half. Also played for the Coast XI. Mombasa Goan
Institute (MGI) Hockey representatives 1950 – 1960s Leslie Pinto: Inside
forward. Played or MGI, Coast and Kenya. A delightful “stick”player,
exceptionally fast. Silvano Pinto: Half back, MGI, and Coast XI. Walter
Cardoso: One of the finest centre-halves the MGI produced. A great motivator of
fellow players. Captained the Coast XI. Trialed for Kenya. Luis Castelino:
Goalkeeper. MGI, Coast and trialed for Kenya. Anthony Vaz: Originally from
Nairobi, moved to Mombasa. Flag bearer at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. Always
rated among the greats of the game. A gentleman, with an eternal smile. MGI.
Pritam Singh Sandhu: One of the great centre forwards of our time. MGI, GI.
Combined brilliantly with Franklyn Pereira. MGI, Coast. 1960 – 1970s Reynolds
Pereira: Inside forward: Learnt to play at the Goan High School, Mombasa. Later
he played for the Falcons before joining MGI. He was one the youngest players
to play for Kenya, 1968 Olympics Mexico City. Also played at the Munich
Olympics in 1972 and the World Cup in Amsterdam (1973). He represented Kenya in
several international events. He was awarded the trophy 47 for the Highest Goal
Scorer at the Copa International Cup in 1977. A speedy player with great stick
work. Raju Babla: Goalkeeper, MGI, Coast XI and was selected to play for Kenya.
Excellent reflexes and timing. His first love, however, was cricket and he was
on the brink of selection for India. Rui Saldanha: Forward. One of the first
Asians to play for Great Britain. GI Nairobi, Hornets. A brilliant player to
watch. 1970 – 1980s Raphael Fernandes: Full back. Boabab Hockey Club, Coast XI.
Olympian. Rapha was vice captain of the national team. Represented Kenya in the
Rene Frank Gold Cup Madras, 1979; Mini Olympics, Montreal Olympics 1979, Inter
Continental Cup in Rome 1977, the Esanda World Cup in Perth, Australia, 1979
and travelled to Zimbabwe and Zambia for a Test series. Was the winner of the
“Player of the Year” award in 1977. Also selected for the Moscow Olympics 1980
and the Seoul Olympics in 1988. Mario Fernandes: Inside forward. Represented
MGI, Coast XI and Kenya. A prolific goal scorer with great speed, stick work
and an uncanny ability to scoop the ball into the goal. Played against Pakistan
and trialed for Montreal. Tony Castanha: Inside forward, winger. MGI, Baobab,
Coast XI. Was a member of Baobab which was the only team from the coast to win
the prestigious M R (Emar) De Souza Gold Cup which was usually dominated by
upcountry teams. Patrick Martins: Inside forward. Capped in 1974 for the All
Africa Championships in Cairo, picking up a bronze medal. Played in the Mini
Olympics in 1975. Also played in the Inter-Continental Cup in Rome, Esanda Cup
in Perth, Australia, 1979 and toured India, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore
and Indonesia. Michael Fernandes: Centre half. Captained MGI and the Coast XI
for many years. Played for the Goa XI in the Indian inter-state competitions.
Played for Kenya in the Inter-Continental Cup in Rome 1977. Was selected for
Kenya, but could not travel to Zimbabwe and Zambia. Walter De Souza: Played for
the MI and then moved to Nakuru where he represented the Rift Valley. Capped to
play for Kenya in the Inter-Continental Cup in Rome 1977. Ted Kabetu:
All-rounder, MI, Coast. Opportunist. 48 Alvito Abreu: GI, Coast XI. Assistant
GM Kenya team to Cairo and judge and Assistant Technical Director All Africa
Games in Nairobi 1987. Aaron Fernandes: Played for GI. Later moved to the UK,
played for GB under 21s. Capped by Canada at the Los Angeles Olympics. Teddy
Gomes: Played for GI Kisumu, repped Nyanza. Victor Mpaga: First African to join
MI. Later moved to Baobab. Coast XI. Christopher De Souza: Played in the Goal
for MI and also represented Coast XI. In the 1980s the following players were
associated with the MI: Milton Fernandes, Rosario Barretto, Melvin Fernandes,
Neville De Souza, Iqbal Sheikh, Avinash Dholakia, and Ashok Weeraratna. 1990s:
Carlo Da Silva, Warren Pereira, Joseph Mascarenhas, Solomon Omondi, Edmund
Hawai, Angelo Pereira. Warren Pereira: 1985: short corner specialist: awarded
the “best upcoming player” by the Coast Hockey Association. Represented Kenya
from 1989 to 1996. Played in the Indira Gandhi Gold Cup where Kenya won bronze
after losing to Holland. In 1996, in the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa,
Kenya was beaten in the final by the hosts. Selected MI sportsman of the year
eight times. Solomon Omondi: Selected for Kenya for the All Africa Games in
Zimbabwe. Other MI players over the years have been: Joe (ESSO) Fernandes, Joe
Faria, Anthony (Antu) Pinto, Alu Pereira, Alvito Abreu, Bonny Fernandes, Bob
Zuzarte, Francis Lobo, Harold George D’Souza, Zeno De Souza, Jose De Souza,
Adolf Dias, Zachary De Souza, Newton Da Costa, Jos P. Rodrigues, B. De Souza,
Christy Pereira, Noel Fernandes, Veron De Souza, Maria Pereira (nee De Souza),
Amy Fernandes, Doris Fernandes, Nifa Fernandes, Justin Dourado, Bonny
Fernandes. Soccer 1940s – 1950s Procopio Fernandes: Began his football career
in Goa where he played left half for his school and was responsible for some
splendid victories. When he came to Africa, he brought his footy boots along
and his knowledge and skill of the game won him many fans and recognition. He
was selected to play for the rep side Asians XI. Unfortunately he broke his leg
and was sidelined for a while. 49 Later he played full back and in the goal
just before he retired. Eugen Mendes: A steady full back for the club and
Asians XI. Effie Antao: Forward. A goal scoring machine, one of the hardest
kickers or the ball, a smasher of goal nets, and all this when most of the time
he played in defence. Effie played for the MGI in all their major tournaments.
You were always assured of plenty of thrills and an object lesson to watch him
play. It was not surprising then that he was appointed captain Coast Province
Association side in 1955. He was also a member of the all-conquering Liverpool
FC side. George De Souza: In Nairobi, he played for the most successful Goan
team ever, Nairobi Heroes, where he earned a huge reputation as a skillful
player. In Mombasa he played with MGI. George Da Costa: Centre half and played
in many victorious tournaments for the MGI. Walter Castanha: Full back, a rock
in defence. Great to watch. Willie Lobo: Played good football for the Kisumu
Hot Stars. Also played cricket and hockey for Nyanza Province. A member of MGI.
1950s – 1960s Joe Gonsalves: Joe Gonsalves was a young soccer player and
athlete in Mombasa at a time when the Kenyan coastal capital was blessed with
some of the greatest Goan sporting heroes of our time: First there was the
greatest of them all, the Commonwealth Games double sprint gold medalist,
Seraphino Antao, Albert Castanha (the finest all-round sportsman), Joe Faria
(sprinter), Jack Fernandes (sprinter), Laura Ramos (sprinter), Franklyn Pereira
(hockey), Joe Fernandes (soccer), Tony Masky (soccer), George Da Costa
(soccer), Wilfred D’Souza (soccer), Leslie Pinto (hockey), Silvano Pinto
(hockey), Michael Fernandes (hockey), Reynolds Pereira (hockey), Alan Noronha
(sprinter, hockey), Michael Fernandes (Hockey Olympian 1956), Anthony Pinto
(cricketer), Ernest Vianna (spectacular tennis player), Xavier Vianna (tennis),
Alcino Rodrigues (400 metres specialist), Effie Antao (sensational soccer goal
scorer). There were many others, too, and whose names have faded just as much
as my own memory continues to fade with time. God Bless ‘em all. Tony
Mascarenhas (Masky): As a very young school boy it was clear to all those who
watched him that he was born for greater things. He was outstanding at soccer,
hockey and cricket and he could have been a champ at netball, volleyball or
anything else he might have tried his hand at. He was that talented. 50 After
finishing high school in 1961, he caught his first big break as a key player
for the outstanding Goan Nairobi Heroes side in the National League in Nairobi.
He was an absolutely stunning goal poacher with his head or with his boot. In
one match, against Samia United, he scored 9 out of the 10 Heroes’ goals… a
record that may have stood the test of time. The following year he returned to
Mombasa and was signed by Liverpool which by then had changed its name to
Mwenge to be politically correct. All seems a bit silly, then and now. It was
not long before he was selected to play for Kenya against the professional
English side West Bromwich Albion which was touring Kenya at the time. Effie
Antao: Full back. A goal scoring machine from free kicks, one of the hardest
kickers or the ball, a smasher of goal nets, and all this when most of the time
he played in defence. Effie played for the MGI in all their major tournaments.
You were always assured of plenty of thrills and an object lesson to watch him
play. It was not surprising then that he was appointed captain Coast Province
Association side in 1955. He was also a member of the all-conquering Liverpool
FC side. George De Souza: In Nairobi, he played for the most successful Goan
team ever, Nairobi Heroes where he earned a huge reputation as a skillful
player. In Mombasa he played with MGI. George Da Costa: Centre half and played
in many victorious tournaments for the MGI. Walter Castanha: Full back, a rock
in defence. Great to watch. 1960s Luis Castelinho, Benny Carvalho, Joe
(Mgonjwa) Fernandes also played for the MGI. Joe went on to play for Liverpool
FC.
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