ATHLETICS:
Allan Noronha Tito D’Souza Joe Rodrigues Bruno D’Souza George
D’Costa Albert Castanha Seraphino Antao Joe
Faria
Athlete of the Century: Albert Castanha
LADIES ATHLETICS:
Meldrita Laurent Viegas Winnie D’Souza
Laura Ramos
Athlete of the Century: Meldrita Laurent Viegas
BADMINTON:
Valence Dantes Philo D’Cunha Newton D’Costa Joe
Fernandes Jerry Soares Agnes Correa Stars of The Century: Valance Dantes
Philo D’Cunha Newton D’Costa
TENNIS:
Mrs Rideau
Mrs L Noronha Mr M A Vienna John Monteiro
FOOTBALL:
Joe Gonsalves Albert Castanha Effie Antao
Tony Masky Eugene
Mendes
Procopio Fernandes George D’Souza
A S S Figueira
Star of the Century: Procopio Fernandes
WOMEN’S HOCKEY:
Phila Fernandes Sylvia Fernandes
Melissa Castellino Pereira Ida Pires
Laura Ramos Winnie D’Souza Bertha Pinto Jane
Sequeira
Wilma Nazareth D’Souza Star of the Century: Phila Fernandes
MEN’S HOCKEY:
Jerome Monteiro Joe Rodrigues Adolf Dias Michael Texeira Zachary D’Souza A B Rego Jos D’Souza Newton D’Costa Albert Castanha Walter Castanha Michael Pereira
Reynolds Pereira Tony Masky Benny Carvalho Nicholas Pereira George D’Costa
Michael Fernandes Patrick Martins Alu Pereira
Anthony Pinto Albert D’Souza (Patch)
Raphael Fernandes Joe Faria Luis Castellino Mario Fernandes Mervyn D’Souza Raju
Babla Wilfred D’Souza Leslie Pinto Sylvano Pinto Carlos D’Silva D B Fonseca Warren Pereira Maxie Vaz Star of the Century: Michael Pereira
SNOOKER AND BILLIARDS:
Raffie Rebello Steve D’Souza JP De
Souza Yes Pea Pereira Araf Butt
Star
of the Century: Raffie Rebello
CRICKET:
Anthony Pinto Adolf Dias Steve D’Souza Harold
George Peter George Michael Texeiera
Luis Castelino Joe Fernandes
Mervyn D’Souza Joe Rodrigues Tony Masky
John D’Souza Tony Fernandes Sam D’Souza Alu Pereira Gerson Pereira S C A Fernandes L
C D’Souza Max Monteiro Jimmy
Carvalho Victor Fernandes Peter
Cordeiro Raul Sama Angelo D’Souza Eddie D’Souza Michael Tavares Star of the Century: Adolf Dias
The above selections were made
to mark the centenary celebrations of the Institute
Mombasa Goan
Institute
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 the 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.
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. A very well-known player,
with Ida Pires formed an unbeatable back
line.
WINNIE DE SOUZA: A forward for many years. SILVIA
FERNANDES: Centre forward.
HOCKEY MEN’S 1930 – 1940s
MAXI VAZ: Half-back: one of the icons of hockey in the
1940s. He played for 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 played out his career with the MGI.
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: According to Cyprian
Fernandes, Franklyn was
perhaps the greatest hockey player never
to have worn the Kenya colours at an Olympics. Fernandes 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 XX: 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, but the man does,” 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.
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
captained 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 very gentle man, 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 for the Highest Goal Scorer at the Coppa International Cup i9n 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 of 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 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.
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
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 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. Later he played fullback 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 of 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 skilful 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 schoolboy 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.
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 of 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 skilful 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.
Comments
Asanteni for the Great & Generous accolades to all our Coastal Sports Personalities – as we always portrayed the Coast to Coast Bond – and indefinitely Respect – Reflect – Reminisce our fallen Heros!