Dar Goans win
the Gold Cup
April 1953
By
“Flotsam”
WELL, it’s happened. Dar es Salam Goan Institute recorded its
most resounding victory on the field of sport when it beat the Sikh Union of
Nairobi 2-1 in the final of the M R D’Souza Gold Cup. The victory has
established the Dar team as the premier hockey team in British East Africa.
Splendid cut and thrust hockey was served up throughout the
60 minutes of the match.
In many respects it was an amazing game. It is a long time
since the Nairobi crowds have seen a visiting team take such a hammering and
yet, hit back and win the match.
There was speed, thrust and bite in every Sikh Union move but
the Dar es Salaam side’s greater determination
and “we’ll show them” attitude saw them home at the finish.
It is not too much to say that the Goan defence won the match for the challengers
from Tanganyika. Time and again, deep defenders Alban Fernandes and F X D’Souza
came to the rescue when the fiery Sikh forwards quintette, always on the
attack, threatened to score.
The Goan forward line attacks were spasmodic, but they converted
two of the four chances that came their way.
It is difficult to single out a Goan player for mention. Each
one did his best.
The first half produced no goals, but was fraught with
thrills. The Sikh Union enjoyed market territorial supremacy. However, in the
second half, a strong raid by the Dar es Salaam side saw the ball flash to
outside right Peter Rodrigues whose shot zipped past the helpless goalkeeper.
And other period of Sikh supremacy followed but a sudden
breakthrough in the 52nd minute saw the Goans forcing a penalty
corner-bully. Inside left Mathew Andrade found no difficulty beating goalkeeper
Avtar Singh.
Hardly had the cheers of the Goan supporters died down when
the Sikh Union scored a well-deserved goal through Surjeet Singh in a goalmouth
melee.
Encouraged, the Sikhs forced corner after corner but amidst
terrific excitement the Goan side held on successfully to their slender lead.
After the match, the Mayor of Nairobi, Alerman Dr J R Gregory
presented the handsome cup to Peter Coelho, captain of the Dar side.
The following represented the winning side: Peter Coelho, F X
D’Souza, Alban Fernandes, Fenelon Almeida, Peter D’Sa, and Visitation DD’Souza;
Peter Rodrigues, Paxsy Colaco, John D’Souza, Mathew Andrades, and Timothy
Fernandes.
Hooligans at
a hockey match in Nairobi
By Franklin
D’Souza
Some of our local teams must invariably indulge in rough and
robust hockey which even from a spectator’s point of view is a most nauseating
spectacle in the field of sports. Although the finals of the M R De Souza Gold
Cup provided many thrilling moments to an excited crowd of hockey fans, it was
not devoid of these ugly incidents which bring into relief the unsportsmanship
on the part of the players and the team as a whole.
Mainly obstructionist tactics characterised the game of
Sikhs, while calmness was the keynote of the Goan play which eventually was
largely responsible for the final victory. It is not stickwork alone that
places one on a pedestal of power – even more important is a calm temperament to sport a defeat when
otherwise victory seemed almost a certainty.
These are the two characteristics which have earned a high
reputation for teams like the Lusitanians in Bombay. The “Lusies” are known to face defeat with the same sporting spirit which characterises
their victories.
It would appear no useful purpose has been served by inviting
overseas in this country, for nothing that is exemplary in those tams has
emulated or is being emulated by our local teams; but on the contrary, there
seems to be a sustained effort to play the same old dreadful and dirty hockey.
Hooligans run riot
Hardly had the final of the Gold Cup ended, when a gang of
bearded hooligans and hoodlums worked up into a frenzy invaded the field and
mercilessly beat up umpire Peter Barbossa who later fainted and required first
aid. And then, adopting somewhat like the familiar Mau Mau, hit the energetic
Secretary of the Kenya Goan Sports Association Sports Secretary Mascarenhas
till he bled. Not satisfied with the punishment inflicted for no reason on the
Secretary, the hoodlums bashed his child.
This incident delayed the presentation of the Gold Cup by the
Mayor of Nairobi who watched the sea of excited humanity surging towards him
which was kept back with great difficulty by four unarmed “askaris”. The
learned Mayor after presenting miniature trophies to the Sikhs said although
Dar had taken the Gold Cup, Nairobi could still wrest it from the winners next
year. But this high rhetoric was meaningless to those hooligans who only a
little while ago bashed the umpire and the Secretary of the Kenya Goans Sports
Association.
Planned attack
It is alleged that the incident was as a result of a wrong decision on the part of the
referee Martin Rodrigues which put the Sikhs at a disadvantage. But it is
pertinent to point out that the main attack came from those who had previously
in the same tournament had conveniently their failure to poor refereeing by
Peter Barbossa.
Apart from the abuse hurled at Martin Rodrigues after he had awarded
a penalty bully to the Dar es Salaam Goans, the Sikh players abstained from the
skirmish and the frantic assault on Barbosa and Mascarenha.
It is learnt now that the attack was planned. The impetus to
the plan was given by the defeat of the Sikhs whose supporters joined the
troublemakers.
Action needed
The Kenya Goan Association must take necessary action against
those Sikh players who abused the umpire during the game. It must also, in
future, provide adequate protection to deal with hooligans. Umpires and players
should not be to such bestial punishment as was meted out to Barbosa and
Mascarenhas. In the meantime, the goondas must be brought to task, if repetition
of such incidents has to be stopped. On more than one occasion, the Goan
sportsmen have had their heads broken by ruffians.
Fine Organisation
Apart from
the incident mentioned, the organisation of the Gold Cup tournament was perfect
in every detail and credit in this respect goes to Anthony Mascarenhas,
Secretary of the Kenya Goans Sports Association under whose auspices the
tournament is run.
The
participation of teams from all over
East Africa augurs well for the organisers for the tournament is bound to be
the premier one in the this country. The umpiring throughout the tournament was
of a very high standard particularly by Barbossa, Rodrigues and Anthony de
Souza. As regards the winners of the trophy, it can safely be said that the
best team won.
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