Sporting Spotlight on Goans in East Africa
by Saude George
Year after year flickers by like
a film of memory and we are now on the threshold of a great and unknown period.
Whatever it brings, let us hope it will have for its symbol true human
brotherhood and understanding. For our Institute, this year will be significant
in a historical sense. I am convinced that here, all the Goans are provided a
common ground and the members in general, do their utmost to ensure that high
standard of service, that is a characteristic of the Goan Community
EQUALLY PROFICIENT ON AND OFF
THE FIELD
To judge from frequently
expressed opinions, coupled with the fact that the Goans take part in many
varied events, supports the contention that, the Goans are not only the most
sports-minded people in East Africa and for that matter all over, but are equally
proficient on and off the field in all departments of sport.
Football and hockey monopolise
the attention of the majority of our sports enthusiasts. For the sport of
football is in the heart and blood of every Goan is not far from the truth. The
game has never been more popular that it is today an there is a growing sign of
encouragement from everyone. The post-war seasons in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi
for instance turned out to be not only one of the most memorable in the annals
of this long-standing sport but also pinpointed that local Goan football
contains few episodes to compare with the meteoric rise of the standard in
recent years. Every race including the African, respects our skill on the
football field.
Talk of football in Nairobi and
the African's mind flashes to those epic and breath-taking ties in the 1950
Maxwell Brady International, where crowds thronged in record numbers. There
were high prospects of great and cheering change from he local soccer scene,
when it was proposed that an East African team be flown to Portuguese Africa
for a series of matches. This news no doubt boosted the spirit of the players,
but the idea was temporarily shelved, due to lack of funds. That the scheme of
this nature and magnitude cannot be run without involving some considerable
expense is not to be set aside; but charity begins at home, so runs the old
adage and the public at large who have provided the necessary initiative and
encouragement in the past will certainly not fail this time, as this sound
investment will put Goans of East Africa on the sporting map.
HOCKEY SCENE ON THE UP-GRADE
The more gloomy observer makes
rather gloomy comparisons with the past years of Goan hockey. Wistfully he
recalls performances over a decade and wonders shall their like be soon again.
How this opinion can be reconciled with the present standard of our boys in the
competitions in the face of stiff opposition is difficult to understand.
Remember the Goan Institute Nairobi and Dar es Salaam and to a lesser degree
the Kampala side, in the recent seasons of the M. R. D'Souza Gold Cup
tournament. What grand hockey these teams played. In those matches the morale
of the entire Goan play was raised. In Mombasa and other coastal places the
Goan standard in hockey has
risen considerably.
There are reasons for the
comparative lack of outstanding players in the present time. Fewer people feel
the need to turn to hockey for recreation and others who have the urge, turn to
other sport as there is not enough fostering of the game by the responsible
bodies. Curiously enough, our own Association have provided invigorating
factors and there is plenty of drive in their organisation. This body has
demanded respect and admiration from the public. This opinion can be reconciled
by the successful staging of competitions and other matches to provide enough
incentive to our plavers for better achievements.
In order that hockey finds
greater optimism, ladies' teams are being run all over East Africa. Thus, while
hockey may have its part disappointment previously, there is evidence of bright
outlook in the future. With these great attempts, there is not the slightest
reason for suggesting that there will be decline in interest.
LACK OF VISITING TEAMS
The question of interest in
cricket has not been tackled in an earnest way and there is not much headway.
Apart from the regular fixtures and a few competitions, there is a dearth of
good visiting teams coming here and this naturally deters the game surging
forward. One thing is certain that probably 70 per cent of the people enjoy
watching than playing the game.
IS ENOUGH ATTENTION GIVEN TO
TENNIS?
In tennis Goans have been
blessed with a spectacular rise to fame in Kenya and Uganda, but persistent
efforts are not made by our champions to maintain top standard as they are apt
to think they have reached the zenith. Few
youngsters take up to this game
seriously and it will be a great tragedy if the old horses slump back into
retirement. It is idle to suppose that players will be modeled into champions
over a fortnight. The clubs and the associations have tried to weather this
storm but it is up to the players to aim at that ambition, that is so conducive
to present day standard.
SOME SUPREMACY IN THE OTHER
GAMES
In the lesser known games like
billiards, snooker, badminton and table-tennis, the Goans have enjoyed some
supremacy and in the last named our boys have won laurels in open
championships. The achievements of some of the billiard players call for
special recognition. A lot of credit goes to some of the youngsters who are
equally good in handling the cue and we can be certain of having something
exceptional in the cold storage.
In badminton, the old prejudice
that it is more of a feminine game has died away and with more promising
younger talent, it is bound to dominate the sports scene to a great extent.
In athletics we have had a fair
measure of success. It is a great pity that all our clubs do not stress the
importance of athletics. There is plenty of talent and the only way to broaden
the base is to improve our programmes and give better facilities to all.
OUR MATERIAL HANDICAPS
That having been said, we must
see what are our material handicaps. The root of all trouble is two-fold. Lack
of finance and the absence of enough youngsters. What has happened in the past
is a matter of little interest. Someone has to take a realistic view about the
proper development of the youngsters and although progress in the intial stages
will be at snail's pace, never-the-less the results gained would be most
helpful indeed. From the empty coffers arises another difficulty of the absence
of enough playing fields. It is a big stumbling-block and the pity of it, is
that even the nurseries of our Sport, the schools, do not possess sufficient
playgrounds. The only solution to this problem is to appeal to the right bodies
who can help us in this respect.
But all is well that ends well
and I am quite confident that Goans have their own way of overcoming such
handicaps and achieve remarkable success not only on the field but off the
field where the sporting spirit is much appreciated
than triumph.
______________________________
The writer of this article needs
little introduction and as a sports correspondent has contributed articles to
local papers. A product of St. Paul's School, Belgaum, India, has been
described by the soccer critics as the best Asian and one of the finest footballers
in the Colony.
Holds the record for the highest
number of appearances for the Kenya combined selections and has the distinction
of playing against the Swedish, London University and the Austrian top class
visiting teams. Has also appeared in all
the representative matches of
the inter-racial Commercial Football League. Has captained the Institute team
on four occasions and led the 1953 Goan XI. Is also a representative hockey
player and been in the Institute line-up.
Although enrolled as a member in
1950, has been in the Institute management for the last three years and perhaps
been the youngest member to hold the post of a Secretary.
Sister Institutions
Besides the Goan Institute, there are many other social and
demi-political institutions which cater for the various sections of the Goan
Community. There is the Goan
Gymkhana an off-spring of the mother Institute whose resident
membership is about 400 and provides social intellectual and sporting
amenities. They possess a new building which was erected during the war period
in 1942 through the gallant efforts of Mr. Jos A. D'Souza and Dr. M. Ribeiro.
Members hold debentures and receive interest on the shares. It is compulsory
for a new member to buy at east one Debenture of 50/-
There is also the demi-official Railway
Goan Institute which provides similar facilities for the
Railway Officials for whom it is compulsory to become a member. Their
membership is about 300, besides they have 100 honorary Goan members. Their
president is a permanent European official, but the vice-president is elected
by the general body.
The Tailors'
Society have a new building of their own with living quarters
and a hall. This Institution is the oldest of its kind and is based on Trade
Union lines. Practically every Goan tailor is a member and they hold their
Annual gathering with great pomp and show under the universal Patron of Goa,
St. Francis Xavier. They have a Provident Fund Scheme for its members.
There is another institution, Santa Cruz
Club which owns a very handsome building at Ngara. It consists
of a Prayer Room, a large Hall and several living rooms. This is typical of
Clubs in Bombay and elsewhere in India. They have their annual function in May
with great festivity. They have Mutual Benefit Fund Scheme for its members.
Then there is the institution which provides for the education
of the Goan children. This is known as the Dr. Ribeiro
Goan Oversea Association School, as Dr. Ribeiro was the main
benefactor who donated the sum of Shs. 45,000/- all told in 1930. This School
is very popular both among Goans and Indians. Dr. A. C. L. de Sousa has devoted
his life time towards its progress and a secondary block is under construction.
This is the Institution which certainly requires all the tact and attention to
run it on proper lines as it means the future of our children and good
citizenship of Kenya.
The Goan
Overseas Association which is supposed to look after the
interest of the Goan Community in general has devoted all its time and energy
after the School. This Institution could have served a far more useful purpose
and taken up many questions of benefits to our Community, such as housing
schemes which has only recently been done, commercial enterprises, etc.
Unfortunately this institution has not received that full amount of support and
co-operation as it should have done. However, there is a move to vivify it on
proper lines and make it a really representative association of the Goans in
Nairobi.
Owing to the general Government policy of unifying the East
African Territories, it has been felt necessary to form similar body of Goans
to be known as East African Goan Conference
with headquarters at Nairobi. Dr. de Sousa is the prime mover of this and has
travelled all over lecturing on the merits of his scheme. Undoubtedly it is a
move in the right direction. My feelings at the moment are that if such a
movement does not do us any good it will not do us any harm and it would be
premature to past a judgment until a fair trial has been given to it, and
therefore deserves our support.
The only joint commercial and economical venture of the Goans
was the E.A. Goan Co-operative Society
with an authorised capital of one milion shillings. It had a large provision
and grocery store at Nairobi and a branch at Mombasa. The first Board of
Directors was Dr. R. Ribeiro, O.B.E. (Chairman), Mr. J. M Nazareth, Mr. J. A.
Dias, Mr. L. M. Noronha. Dr Manuel Ribeiro, Mr. J. M. George, Mr. Leo A D'Souza
and Mr. J. Christie D'Souza with Mr Edward Moniz as the General Secretary. This
co-operative movement was brought about by the hardships suffered by our
Community during the war period in obtaining the necessities and Goans had at
last realised that a concern of this nature was of double benefit to us all.
The money spent by the Community was circulated within itself. The Society,
however, received a half-hearted support of the Community and died a natural
death.
The next in importance among the social institutions, is the Goan Institute, Mombasa.
It has a resident membership of nearly 400 and probably is the oldest Institute
in the East African Territories. The old club house was situated near Fort
Jesus, but in 1927 a very attractive double storeyed building was erected in a
very prominent locality at a cost of Shs. 70,000/-. The plot was donated by the
late Sir Ali Bin Salim an Arab Chief, known as the Liwali of the Coast, and a
great benefactor of the Goan Community. His charities are numerous among all
the communities. His large portrait and a Sword hangs in the Ballroom Hall.
Among those who have given their best to this Institute is Mr. P. D'Mello,
(Godgodo), Mr. Bell Carvalho, Mr. R. A. Oliver and many others and of the
younger generation, Dr. B. Pinto, Dr. Figueiredo and Mr. E. T. Noronha. The
sporting activities of this Institute are well maintained and the various teams
have proved to be second to none at the Coast.
The general activities of the Community are looked after by the Goan Community, a body
embracing general membership. It runs a Goan School, training students for the
Senior Cambridge. Plot for this building was also donated by Sir Ali bin Salim.
The building consists of several class rooms and is situated in a prominent
locality where Goans own private property and residences. The School has been
run quite efficiently under the able direction of Mr. Ildefonso D'Souza and has
produced satisfactory results. This Community also possesses a large area of
land freehold and gets certain amount of revenue from it. Goans here are held
in much respect both by the Arabs, Africans and Europeans and very friendly
relationship prevails among the Indian communities.
The Goan
Institute, Kisumu, which lies on the shores of the great Lake
Victoria, comes next in rank. This centre was very populous when the traffic to
Uganda passed by rail to Kisumu and then by lake steamer to Port Bell. It has
100 resident members and a building consisting of a main hall which was
extended in 1929 and a bar room Messrs. V. C. D'Mello, Norbert Gomes, C. M.
Pinto, D. J. Paes, Dr. C. Raymond and Mr. Aloysius D'Mello devoted their best
times in maintaining the Institute though at first many odds had to be faced in
meeting the deficits. Recently other young men have kept its prestige by
earnest and sincere work. The writer was resident there during 1934 to 1942 and
feels obliged to mention the fact that much of his training in public life was
obtained there when he was Secretary of the Institute for three consecutive
years.
The Goan
Community caters for the needs of all the Goans and runs a
school whose career has been rather haphazard. Its doors have remained closed
more often than open. Great efforts were made in 1935 by running a raffle to
maintain the School but after two years financial difficulties arose and it was
closed down. The writer was the Secretary for nearly seven years of that body.
Fresh efforts have now been made to carry on the School with the aid of a paid
Sister from the Mission and other Goan teachers and though the same
difficulties are experienced it is running successfully so far. The classes are
held in the Institute Hall and there is a proposal to erect a small building.
The Goan
Institute, Nakuru, was a very popular institution in the past
and had a member ship of nearly 50. It has a large hall with cloak and bar
rooms. Besides it has two tennis and badminton courts. The Hall was recently
enlarged.
The Goan
Community has a School run on similar lines as the Kisumu one,
but has made better progress. A sum of money has been collected through the
energetic efforts of its Secretary Mr. Basil D'Souza, and Dr. Vaz, its
President and a school building has been erected.
Eldoret was quite a prosperous town a few years ago
after the Uasin Gishu Railway to Kampala was constructed and when most of the
Government Departments and Banks had their offices there. The Goan population
was as strong as Nakuru but in recent years has dwindled down as some Banks
have closed their branches and many commercial firms have moved elsewhere.
This happened particularly during the gold rush in 1932 to
Kakamega. The building consists of a decent Hall and other ancillaries, but the
ground has been vegetating for a considerable time. Three years ago efforts
were made to renew it activities but I am informed not much success has been
attained. It is a pity that Goans cannot agree among themselves to maintain
this little Club house by mutual understanding and goodwill. It is hoped common
sense will prevail and younger members will take keener interest and bring
about unity and harmony among its members.
It is also rumoured that a body known as Goan Community has been
established as in other centres. All good luck to them.
Kitale used to be quite a lively centre a few years
ago when M/s. Adolf Carrasco, Joe D'Souza, Rangel, and others of the younger
generation like Hilary D'Souza, Peter Fernandes and Francis Ferrao were
stationed there. It has decent little Hall with all the ancillaries and its
original membership was like the gauncars of Oxel, 13 and it is a surprise that
a small community could have built such a pretty little Club house. It has
tennis and badminton courts and is centrally situated among the Government and
commercial quarters. There has been much shifting of Goan population from
Eldoret and Kitale and this has greatly affected the prosperity of these two
institutions.
Nyeri, which lies almost at the foot of Mount
Kenya, is a very healthy spot and has a Goan population of about 50 adults.
There are a few Goan civil servants and the rest in the Banks. This forms the
social side of the Goan Community. Mr. L. J. Dennis late of the Administration
was a resident there for a quite a long period and took active part in the Goan
affairs. Recently Goan young men have made a good effort to found a Goan
Institute and have secured a piece of land from Government. All good luck to
the enterprising young Goans. The writer was stationed there for about six
months in 1940 and 1941 and remembers the tennis courts where some relaxation
could be had. Prior to that there was another court run, in opposition, by Mr.
Dennis and his followers which is now a grazing ground, the other was
maintained hy Mr. Gama Pinto and his partizans. Now unity prevails.
Entebbe is the Uganda Government's centre situated at
the western end of the Great Lake Victoria. The Goan population consists
entirely of civil servants. The Institute building has a Hall sufficiently
large enough to accommodate 300 people and was built in 1905. Besides, there
are the unusual amenities and indoor games. The membership is nearly 60 but the
Goan population is slowly being reduced. At one time the number was much larger
but as Bugandas are receiving higher education at the Makerere College, Asians
are being replaced by them. There are only two Goan commercial firms of long
standing. Excelsior Club which was started in opposition to the Institute and
founded on wrong principles has gone the way it had come. The writer visited
the place in 1937 with a team from G.I. Kisumu and has very happy recollections
of the homely spirit that prevailed among them. Entebbe is only 22 miles run
from Kampala and many of the people from these two centres visit one another
quite frequently as Bus service connects the two towns.
Kampala is the commercial centre of the Uganda
Protectorate and is on top of a hill surrounded by six others. The town is like
Mapuca Bazaar and the Goan population here is far greater than Entebbe. It is a
credit to the Goans to have erected a very grand modern building which is an
addition to the old one. It has a commanding frontage and the Hall is very
spacious. The surroundings are quite asthetic and the famous Rubaga Catholic
Cathedral and also the Protestant church can be seen on top of two other hills.
The Club is situated in the midst of Government Asian quarters and therefore
very conveniently located. Though there have been a few storms in this
Institute, the spirit prevailing is a credit to the Goans. Among the East
African Territories Kampala is the only town where Goans have established
themselves firmly in trade.
Late Mr. Norman Godinho had been a pillar in the local Goan
affairs and a great benefactor. He donated the whole cost of the Goan School
building which at first was conducted by the Goan Community but has now been
handed over to Government. The Goan Community or the Goan Union as it is known
has had ups and downs and generally looks after the communal affairs which are
far and few between. The
Tailors' Society also has a new building and its branch at
Kampala is as popular as in Nairobi.
Jinja is the military headquarters of the Uganda
Government and is the third town of importance. The Goan population is about
100 and that little community has an Institute building and also a School, the
latter having been taken over by Government. In this town there are many Goan
firms doing prosperous business. This town has now gained further importance by
the harnessing of the River Nile and the erection of Owen Falls Power House
which will supply electricity even to Kenya.
Dar es Salaam is the capital of Tanganyika
Mandated Territory. The Goan Community there is as large as Mombasa. The
Institute is an old building and has a membership of nearly 300. The local
affairs are managed by the Goan Community. There is also the Goan Sports Club
and Friends Union which look after certain respective interests. A Goan School
building has been erected.
Tanga Goans founded the Goan Association to cater
for the social needs of the resident and upto now have done well. Recently a
Goan Institute has been founded by a few who could not see eye to eye with the
managements of the Association. It is a surprise to me that where in other
smaller centres Goans cannot afford to maintain one institute, that Tanga can
run two.
Zanzibar is the place where Goans landed
first when coming to these territories. Goans here have given their best
service to the various Sultans of Zanzibar. Many Goans have held officers rank
with great credit to themselves and to the Community. Names of Dr. Albuquerque
and others have been written in letters of gold in the history of Goan
settlement in Zanzibar. The Institute consist of a large hall and other
amenities. This is another place where Goans have built up reputation in
business. The Goan Sports Club caters for the sporting needs of the Goan young
men.
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