[From L to R] Albert Castanha, Laura Ramos, Seraphino Antao
Albert Castanha was also known as “Legs Castanha” or “The Cat”! He was easily recognised as the greatest Goan all-round sportsman of his time. He was brilliant in football, hockey, cricket, athletics (sprinting), badminton and virtually any sport he put his mind to. This was indeed a great Goan. He was brilliant in almost every sport he played. Perhaps the greatest Goan all-rounder anywhere.
FOOTBALL
Albert was born in Mombasa on October 7, 1935, and his parents hailed from Calangute. He began playing football while at school. He went on to play for the Mombasa Goan Institute (MGI) “A” team and played in all the Coast Province Football tournaments as a centre forward.
Later, he moved to the right wing, but injuries forced him into the goalkeeper position where he enjoyed stunning success. Albert was selected for the Coast Provincial team and played for them from 1958 to 1963. He later joined the Liverpool Mombasa FC where they won all the tournaments. He played against such big-name teams as Mohan Bhagan of India, A.I.K Sweden, Tanzania Combined, etc.
Albert’s big moment came when he became one of the few Goans to represent Kenya in the Gossage Cup, the premier Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania triangular tournament. Other Goans who played in the Gossage were Alex Fernandes, Oscar D’Mello, and Saude George. Albert also played for Kenya in various internationals. Albert captained the Coast Province team from 1959 to 1964 and was the provincial coach from 1958 to 1963.
He played for the MGI for 30 years, and captained it often. He played for the Coast XI from 1955 until 1970. He was also the Coast provincial coach.
Albert Castanha
HOCKEY
The Kenya Hockey Union sent Albert to Karachi in 1981 for a prestigious coaching course. He played on the left wing, inside left or left half.
His first match was in 1955 and his last for the MGI was in 1990. In one of the many exciting lineups, Albert played for the MGI hockey team: Justin Dourado, Mervyn De Souza, Anthony Vaz, Albert Castanha (captain), Walter Cardoso, Alban Fernandes, Franklyn Pereira, Leslie Pinto, Silvano Pinto, Louis Castelino and Reynolds Pereira. What an absolute champion. Deserved international representation.
ATHLETICS
In athletics, Albert represented Kenya in 100-yard and 200-yard sprints, 120 high hurdles, high jump and 4x100 relay.
Albert was awarded the Victor Ludorum (the best all-round athlete) in 1955 and 1957. He captained both the Coast and Mombasa GI teams for many years. In 1956, he equalled the Kenya 100-yard record. He was part of the 100-yard Kenya relay team that set records in the East African Championships. He was a contender for the 1956 Olympics but was disappointed by the selectors.
In 1960, Albert won both sprints at the MGI, Coast, Kenya and East African meets. His best times were 9.6 and 21.3. Unfortunately, there was always one man, Seraphino Antao, who stood in his way to international stardom.
In 1958, for example, Ali Yusuf, Albert and Seraphino tied for the fastest 100 yards in Kenya with a time of 9.8. The battle for supremacy is the stuff of movie blockbusters. There were many times when Albert outraced Seraphino and vice versa.
The third musketeer in this trilogy was a guy called Ali Yusuf and the fourth Joe Faria, all from the Coast, who was just as fast as each on their day. At a GI Nairobi meeting, for example, Albert beat Seraphino in both sprints with Eddie (?) Rodrigues filled the third birth each time.
However, when competing for selection in the 1956 Olympics, Albert ran fourth in the 100 and second in the 220. He did not get a place in the team.
Albert, who was acclaimed as an exceptional sportsperson, passed away in Mombasa on November 17, 2007.
(Excerpts from the book ‘Stars Next Door’ by Cyprian Fernandes).
[The writer was the first full-time sports journalist hired by Daily Nation in Nairobi, Kenya in 1960. In many ways, he changed the way sports was reported]
