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SALIGAO—SPORTS AND SPORTSMEN---III. Yesterday we read about the cricket players of yesteryears of Saligao, to-day we shall write about Hockey, football and other players who excelled in various other sports disciplines.. *Hockey—Dr. Eric D’Mello and Eric Saldanha played big hockey for famous club " Lusitanians" and for Engineering College Eleven etc. Mr. Francis D’Sousa( Foru)—was outstanding in hockey in Calcutta playing for Class 1 Tournament like the Beighton Cup. E.Pinto played centre forward for 12 years for Entebbe and Kampala Goan Institutes. Opened the goal for Uganda eleven against South African team that visited East Africa for the first and only time. Micheal D’Souza—a tough and reliable back, good anticipation of the movements of the opposing forwards, showed energetic and powerful clearance of the ball. Arthur Abreu—A judicious half who constantly fed his forwards, a lanky but never tiring player who played a clean game. The team generally depended on his accurate and timely passes. Casimiro Dantas and Zeferino Adriano Cruz were speedy forwards, who always posed a danger to the opponents. Charlie D’Souza was also a fine hockey player, having played for Uganda against Kenya. *Football: Eutropio Pinto, late Tommy Emar, Jaime D’Souza,, Damiao Remedios, Jimmy Machado, Americo Coelho, Trindade D’Souza, Juliao Cordeiro—these formed the nucleus of Saligao team within memory.. In India and England, the family of Mr. Vitorino Saldanha-Arrarim produced many outstanding sportsmen. *In Hockey. Rui Saldanha was an Oxford Blue in hockey and finally donned the International cap for England and played at the OLYMPIC GAMES of 1972 at Munich in Germany. Although England lost, Rui got an excellent write-up from Sports commentators. *Badminton: Hipolito Saldanha, Rui’s father played hockey and football for St. Xavier’s College in the leading Bombay Tournaments. But he excelled in Badminton and was the All Bombay Champion in 1942. *Tennis: The eldest Saldanha son, Dr. Jerry won 3 gold medals in a line for Singles, Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles in an Open North London Club Tournament in 1924. *Sports. The son of Dr. Jerry, Dr. Victor Saldanha represented his Medical College in Mangalore and annexed cups in running and jumping in the All India inter Collegiate Meets twice. Tommy Emar, a nephew, was a great sporstman too and donated the famous Tommy Emar Cup for Women’s Hockey in Bombay. ( His father M.R. D’Souza had donated a cup in East Africa for Men Hockey.). The two Fernandes’ brothers, F.X. and Joe from Mudd’davaddi must be numbered among the outstanding sporstmen of their time. Their nephew, Brigadier George D’Souza of Nagpur was an outstanding sportman in the Army teams in hockey, football and Boxing. I offer my apologies in advance to any Saligao player who have bee omitted inadvertently from the above list. In conclusion, I extend my good wishes to all the present Saligao players who participate in games, for the progress and success in their endeavours.( concluded) By Mr. Eutropio Pinto-Arrarim, Saligao. Compiled by Fr. Nascimento Mascarenhas |
