8. The Evolution Of Goan Sports In Uganda

The Kampala Goan Institute, winners of the Kampala, Entebbe, and District tennis titles: D. Pereira, Al Mathias, C. Dias, H. Dias, J. Pereira.

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In the realm of Goans and sports in Uganda, the Entebbe Goan Institute emerges as the flagship. The club dates back to April 24, 1905. Almost all Goan civil servants in Uganda had their start in Entebbe—which was then the seat of Government -- and it was no accident that Goan sports in Uganda made their debut at the E.G.I. and are inextricably linked to this club.

History will show that sports started as follows: Tennis 1907; Soccer 1907; Badminton 1908; Field hockey 1916; Cricket 1917; Volleyball 1952. Carom and Ping-pong were slotted in between. The club floated the E.G.I. Cup for field hockey in 1922 for an annual competition amongst all sports clubs in the Protectorate. (This cup was the equivalent of the Gold Cup in Nairobi.) The E.G.I won its own cup for the first time in 1938. By inference, there were superior teams that held them back till then. It is noteworthy that this cup became the catalyst for Uganda’s Olympic Hockey Team.

Whether one was born a gifted athlete, whether one’s sporting prowess was inherited, or whether one was influenced by a pushy parent, are moot points. The bottom line is that Goans have a natural propensity for sports. And, in Uganda, the E.G.I. could not have been a better nurturing ground. In their formative years, the seniors of today and many of their parents developed a healthy penchant for soccer, field hockey and cricket, while at school or university.

Once they got into the workforce in Uganda they diversified into tennis, badminton, table-tennis and volleyball. The osmosis transformed them into all-rounders in sports. A significant number excelled in one or more sport and reached a pinnacle when selected to be on the national squad. In the process, they brought singular honour to the community and demonstrated convincingly that despite our comparatively small number, we could stand shoulder to shoulder with the best.

With the passage of time, it is far from certain the following list encompasses everybody with an E.G.I connection who played representative sports.

Field Hockey Cosme De Souza was honoured on several occasions to captain the Uganda Hockey team in international matches versus Kenya, Tanzania, India and Pakistan. Others who represented Uganda include Michael Teixeira, Polly Pereira, Josy Pereira, Ambrose Da Silva, Carlitho Mascarenhas, Willie Lobo, Felix Britto, Renato Rodrigues, Denis Pereira, Aloysius Mathias, Tony Pereira, Victor Pereira, Joe Lobo, Leslie Da Costa, Wilfred Rodrigues, Leslie D’Costa, Alec Rodrigues, Abu D’Souza, Osbert Remedios, Donat D’Souza and Roland Colaco.

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Zulema Collaco de Souza with the Kololians seven-a-side winning team in Kampala.

Tennis S.P. Dias was the first Goan to win the Uganda Protectorate Open Singles tennis title. Later, in 1952, his son Celly followed in his father’s footsteps and claimed the title. Others who regularly played in the Kampala & Entebbe District League include Aloysius Mathias, Denis Pereira, Josy Pereira, John Sequeira, Armand Rodrigues, Felix D’Mello (Jnr.), Felix D’Mello (Snr.), John D’Mello, Reggie Dias, Claude DeSouza, Edwin Fernandes and Peter Fernandes. Peter also claimed the Uganda Singles Junior title. Aloysius Mathias and Denis Pereira won the Uganda Closed Tennis Championship and the Entebbe Open Tennis Championship for two years. Al won the Entebbe Open Singles Titles in those two years.

Women’s Field Hockey Zulema DeSouza captained Uganda vs Kenya on several occasions. Others who represented Uganda included Flora Gomes, Esmie DeSouza, Eurema Colaco, Ella Gomes, Helen D’Mello, and Delphine Francis.

Zulema Collaco arrived in East Africa (Uganda) in January 1961, having represented the Maharashtra Women’s Hockey Association (Poona - India). She captained the Maharashtra Provincial Team and was instrumental in winning the

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finals of the All India Women’s Hockey Trophy (1958). News media described Zulema as a speedy winger with her body swerves, delightful ball control, neat stick-work and delectable play at left wing. (Deccan Herald, Nagpur Times, Poona Daily News, Times of India)

Zulema, captained the Poona University Team, winning the All India University Women’s Championship for three consecutive years. She was awarded the University Gold Medal for bringing great honour and for her contribution to the Poona University.

When she arrived in Uganda, she was the first woman hockey umpire, having passed an examination set by the Association for The Training of Umpires.

With her arrival in Uganda, East Africa, she taught High School at Kololo Secondary School in Kampala, where she coached and formed the Kololian women’s hockey team. The team comprised of young students. Within a year, her team participated in the local women’s tournaments, defeating practically every other team in Uganda. Many of her players were selected to play for Uganda, which in turn defeated the Kenya women’s team.

When leaving for Canada in 1971, Zulema Collaco de Souza was presented a Gold Medal by the Board of Governors of Kololo Secondary School in appreciation for her dedication, and contribution to the school. In Canada, she represented the Ontario Women’s Hockey Team on one occasion.

The Kololians as they were later named, played in numerous competitions in other countries, such as India, Germany, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), United Arab Republic and Kenya.

Some of the teams that she played against were India, Japan, Korea, China, Wanderers from England, and Kenya. Unfortunately, since there were no Women’s Olympics at that time many women were very unfortunate in not participating in the Olympics.

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