Effie Antao
In Memoriam
MANUEL ‘EFFIE’ ANTAO
Born 21/01/1934 Mombasa
Died 5/10/2017 Sydney Australia
Another former Liverpool and
Mombasa representative player, Manuel “Effie” Antao has passed away in Sydney
in Australia. In the 1960s and 1070s heyday of Mombasa football, Effie Antao
was one of the most respected centre-halves in the country. He played the bulk
of his soccer for Liverpool but also represented Goan Institute Mombasa and the
Mombasa District.
He was a very a strong man and
one of the toughest players to play against. He stood his ground and never gave
way to any player. He was also very nimble on his feet for a big man. Perhaps
the most outstanding characteristic about this much loved football star was
that he had one of the hardest kicks anywhere in East Africa. There were man
goal post net that looked a sorry site with holes punctured in their by Effie’s
powerful free kicks.
As tough as he was, he also
had a twinkle in eye and was always game for a joke or two.
His other love in those early
days was tinkering in car engines. He eventually turned this interest into a
full time job and was one of the most sought after mechanics at the Coast. His
fame as a mechanic followed him to Sydney Australia when he migrated there.
There used to be a regular queue of friends waiting to have their cars fixed
outside Effie’s home in Sydney’s West, Toongabbie.
His favourite car in Mombasa
was an old Morris.
His famous cousin Seraphino
Antao used to play football with Effie and others. On one occasion, Effie asked
Seraphino if he would like to take part in an East African Railways &
Harbours athletics meeting in 1956. Seraphino worked for the Landing and
Shipping company which had some association with the Harbour activities. Effie
took part in Shot Put.
Seraphino ran barefoot and
did well. This was the start of his athletic career so a lot of
credit to Effie.
Also, apart from football, Effie was a hockey player, a captain of
Mombasa Goan School ex-students team.
He also enjoyed a game of
snooker at the Blacktown Workers Club or at his “local” the Toongabbie Sport
and Bowling Club where his wake will be held after the burial on Friday,
October 13.
Mass Friday 13 October 2017 at 11.00 am
St.Anthony's Church
27-33 Aurelia Street
Toongabbie NSW 2146
Australia
Followed by
Burial Friday 13 October 2017
Pine Grove Memorial Park
Kington Street
Garden of Calvary
7, Minchinbury NSW.
Effie was pre-deceased by his wife Linda. He is
survived by his daughter Evelyn (Graham Irving) and grandchildren Charlotte and
James, by his sister Philo (Rex
D’Souza) brother Elvino (Elisa) and
several nephews and nieces.
Just pals … Pascoal Antao, Eddie
Rodrigues, Seraphino Antao, Diogo Pinto, Effie Antao
The late Effie Antao had a great love
of motor cars, so much so that he became a motor mechanic. In Sydney Australia
his favourite car was the mighty Kingswood.
Just pals … Pascoal Antao, Eddie
Rodrigues, Seraphino Antao, Diogo Pinto, Effie Antao
Salcete village team: On the ground:
Gonzac Fernandes, Martin Gonsalves
Second row: Jack Fernandes, Effie
Antao, Bernard D’Souza, Joe Gonsalves, Joe D’Costa
Standing: Rui Mergulaun, Seraphino
Antao, (?) (?) Pascoal Antao
Martin Gonsalves who lived in Sweden also died on the same day as his friend Effie
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