Goan Institute, Nairobi
Without doubt, the Goan Institute
was the most celebrated social and sports club within the East African Goan community. It was only surpassed in achievement by the Sikh Union in hockey. Others will argue that the Railway Goan Institute was the more dominant Goan hockey club, or that the Mombasa Goan Institute was the most successful in track and field. There is some truth in all of that. However, pound for pound, the GI was outstanding in most areas and provided some leadership and could easily have been the umbrella organisation for the Goans in Kenya but for some early prejudices. Hockey In 1931 the GI became the only Asian team allowed to take part in the white-only European Merchant’s Hockey Shield and thus began an illustrious history in the game. 1952: Winner Emar De Souza Gold Cup. 1954, 1955: Winners Romeo Hockey Shield: Romeo Fernandes, Michael Fernandes, Cajie Fernandes represent Kenya. 1956 Olympics, Anthony Vaz. 1959: East African championships, Anthony Vaz, Edgar Fernandes, Egbert Fernandes, Saude George feature in winning Kenya team. 1961: Winners Emar De Souza Gold Cup. 1972 Winners Nairobi League, Joseph & Sons Cup, play against Dutch team, GI Blues clinch Division 2. 1977 Runners-up Emar De Souza Gold Cup against Spain’s Real Club de Polo. 1978 Winners Ujaggar Singh Cup, lost to Mombasa Baobab in Emar De Souza.
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