SPORTING MEMORIES OF KARACHI GOAN HOCKEY PLAYERS

Goans have always shown a natural flair for the game of hockey and have always played thrilling and delightful hockey. In undivided India, the Karachi Goans gave India their finest and most outstanding hockey players. The Karachi Goan Hockey teams were great crowd favourites at the famous Aga Khan Hockey Tournament held in Bombay. I remember witnessing the wizardry of the Karachi Goan players at the Cabral Shield Tournament in Karachi, against the top teams that were invited from all over India like the Bhopal Wanderers, Calcutta Customs, Kalayam Mills, Khalsa College and Jhansi Heroes.

The first Goans considered for selection in the All India Hockey teams, were the Karachi Goan players. There was little to choose from between the two left wingers - Peter Paul Fernandez and Julius Tellis. The explosive and volatile Peter Paul Fernandez was selected to play for India at the Berlin Olympics. On his retirement from International Hockey, Peter Paul trained and worked with the St. Patrick's School Hockey team. It was the year St. Patrick beat the Bhopal Wanderers in the semi-finals of the Cabral Shield Tournament and then went on to win the trophy by beating the Calcutta Customs in the finals. Both the Bhopal Wanderers and Calcutta Customs had Olympians in their teams. It was said that Julius Tellis had tremendous dash and was a very exciting left-wing forward, but he did not win an Olympic Blazer.

Lawrie Fernandez, known as the Rembrandt of hockey never made it to the Olympics. When he played opposite Dyan Chand in Calcutta, the crowd went crazy over the wizardry of Lawrie and some called out to Dyan Chand that he was playing his father. Lawrie played for the All India Telegraphs. It is difficult to understand why he was never selected for the Olympic side. When he retired from the Telegraphs, he returned to his home in Karachi. He was an excellent tennis player and played tennis at the Karachi Goan Gymkhana. His tennis tips to us teenagers were invaluable.

Hockey aficionados at the Aga Khan Tournament, would come to watch the skill and razzle-dazzle of Patrick Mendis (a high school teacher at St. Patrick's High School in Karachi) whenever he went to Bombay with the St. Patrick's Sports Club or the Karachi Goan hockey teams. He was also one of the School Hockey coaches.

Jack Britto, who was selected for the Pakistan Olympic team at the Helsinki games, had excellent stick work, was a skillful dribbler and was one of the best 'goal shooters' in the game. He was also asked to coach a hockey team in Africa.

Milton D'Mello, the magnificent right half, toured with the Pakistan Olympic team to Spain. It was his outstanding play that helped the St. Patrick School team to beat the famous Bhopal Wanderers at the Cabral Shield Tournament and a special trophy was awarded to him by the Bhopal Wanderers team.

Gerry Barboza was selected for the Pakistan Hockey team to tour East Africa and New Zealand. Gerry was a very intelligent, persistent and constructive left-half. He was also an excellent cricketer and often helped the Karachi Goan Cricket team.

The crafty dribbler on the left-wing to play for Pakistan was Gordon Vaz. He had great speed and stick work and was always a threat to the opposing team.

The All India Olympian (1936) and Bombay Customs Hockey Captain, Feroz Khan (who migrated to Pakistan and was Chairman of the Pakistan Hockey team and Chairman of the Pakistan Selection Committee at the time when Pakistan won the Olympic Gold Medal at the Rome Olympics), once told me that the 'cream' of Indian hockey were the Goans.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Born and educated in Karachi, Leonard (Lenny) Barretto also spent a few years in Bombay, returning to his homeland at the time of Partition. In Pakistan, Lenny enjoyed working with the Goan Community, organizing Goan Cricket and Hockey teams, which qualified to compete at the National level. Working for the US Government, he eventually emigrated to the US with his wife Lydia and their daughter and son. Now retired, he is presently compiling essays of his days in the sub-continent.