Anthony Vaz
{{short description|Kenyan field hockey player}}
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Anthony Vaz
| image = File:Anthony Vaz, Kenyan field hockey player.png
| caption =
| full_name = Anthony Querobino Exaltacao Vaz
| nationality = Kenyan
| birth_date = {{birth date|1932|9|14|df=yes}}
| birth_place =
| death_date = {{death date and age|1982|8|7|1932|9|14|df=yes}}
| death_place = Lambeth, England
| sport = Field hockey
| height =
| weight =
| show-medals = no
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport | Men's field hockey }}
{{MedalCountry | {{KEN}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | East and Central African Championships }}
{{MedalGold | 1959 Arusha | Team competition }}
}}
Anthony Querobino Exaltacao Vaz (14 September 1932 – 7 August 1982) was a Kenyan field hockey player. He was Kenya's first flag bearer and captain at the Summer Olympic Games. He competed at the 1956 Summer Olympics, the 1960 Summer Olympics and the 1964 Summer Olympics.
Early life
Anthony Querobino Exaltacao Vaz was born on 14 September 1932 and was a Goan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/19474|website=Olympedia.org|title=Anthony Vaz}}{{Cite news|url=https://nation.africa/kenya/sports/hockey/kenya-hockey-legend-alu-was-world-s-greatest-left-winger-371822|newspaper=Daily Nation|title=Kenya hockey legend 'Alu' was world's greatest left winger|date=11 March 2017|author=Fernandes, Cyprian; Da Costa, Norman}} He attended and graduated from King Alfred's College (now known as the University of Winchester) in Winchester, England.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette/132136227/|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|via=Newspapers.com|date=1 September 1960|page=26|title=Sidelights on Sports|author=Abrams, Al|author-link=Al Abrams}} {{Open access}}
Sporting career
Vaz was a member of the Goan Institute in Nairobi, Kenya, and later in Mombasa,{{Cite web|url=https://issuu.com/skipfernandes/docs/stars_next_door_book/s/11653626|via=Issuu|author-link=Cyprian Fernandes|author=Fernandes, Cyprian|title=5. The Best of Mombasa Institute}} described as "most celebrated social and sports club within the East African Goan community."{{Cite web|url=https://issuu.com/skipfernandes/docs/stars_next_door_book/s/11653641|author=Fernandes, Cyprian|title=Goan Institute, Nairobi|via=Issuu|author-link=Cyprian Fernandes}} He was a member of their field hockey team as a right full back as early as 1955.{{Cite web |title=GOAN SPORTS ICONS FROM EAST AFRICA - Albert Castanha: Greatest Goan all-round sportsman of his time |url=https://www.thegoan.net/global-goenkar/goan-sports-icons-from-east-africa-albert-castanha-greatest-goan-allround-sportsman-of-his-time/101996.html |access-date=21 August 2023 |website=The Goan EveryDay |date=28 July 2023 |language=en|author=Fernandes, Cyprian|author-link=Cyprian Fernandes}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003221/19621205/183/0012|newspaper=Civil and Military Gazette|via=British Newspaper Archive|date=5 December 1962|title=Pen-Pictures|url-access=subscription}} Vaz learned under Anthony D'Souza, considered "one of the greatest hockey coaches in Kenya."{{Cite news|url=https://www.thegoan.net/global-goenkar/goan-sports-icons-from-east-africa-the-lovable-clown-prince-of-sport/103074.html|newspaper=The Goan EveryDay|author=Fernandes, Cyprian|author-link=Cyprian Fernandes|date=August 25, 2023|title=GOAN SPORTS ICONS FROM EAST AFRICA: The lovable clown prince of sport}} He also played cricket and football, being described as an "all-around sportsman."{{Cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Oa0qAAAAMAAJ&q=%22anthony+vaz%22+%22manager%22|magazine=East Africa and Rhodesia|date=1956|volume=33|title=Unknown title}}
Vaz was called up to the Kenya national field hockey team for the first time in 1956–to represent his country at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. 1956 was Kenya's inaugural appearance at the games, and Vaz was named both the overall team captain and the country's flag bearer.{{Cite news|url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/kenya-at-50/article/2000096981/joy-tears-in-first-quest-for-olympic-glory|newspaper=The Standard|title=Joy, tears in first quest for Olympic glory|author=Njenga, Peter|date=2014}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/132137803/|newspaper=Manchester Evening News|via=Newspapers.com|date=22 October 1956|page=1|title='Best of luck' to Olympic team}} {{Open access}} The Kenya team placed 10th out of 12 teams in field hockey with a record of {{abbr|2–2–2|two wins, two ties, two losses}}.{{Cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/results/35641|website=Olympedia.org|title=Hockey, Men}}
Vaz continued playing for the national team and in 1959 represented them at the East and Central African Championships, being an important piece of their tournament-winning squad. The following year, he was selected to participate in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy, his second Olympic appearance. Out of 16 teams, Vaz helped his country place eighth with a 2–2–2 record.{{Cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/results/35685|website=Olympedia.org|title=Hockey, Men}}
At the 1960 Olympics, Vaz was interviewed by American journalist Al Abrams of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, who noted that he was a "dark, handsome lad of 27 who comes from Kenya, an English province in East Africa, some thousands of miles away from Rome" and that he "spoke perfect English." Vaz described his past Olympic experience and the state of sports in Kenya and nearby countries.
In 1961, Vaz toured Rhodesia with the national field hockey team and the following year played matches against the Pakistan national team. He was noted as one of the players who always gave opposing teams "a good run for their money."{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E60hDQAAQBAJ&dq=%22Anthony+Vaz%22+hockey&pg=PT69|author=Fernandes, Cyprian|author-link=Cyprian Fernandes|title=Yesterday in Paradise: 1950-1974|date=15 September 2016|isbn=9781504303446|publisher=Balboa Press}} He was selected for his third and final Olympic appearance at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, helping Kenya place sixth with a 4–1–3 record.{{Cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/results/35743|website=Olympedia.org|title=Hockey, Men}} A modern source about Kenyan field hockey noted that Vaz was one of the players who "easily" could have been considered the best Goan at the Olympics at the time.{{Cite news|url=https://www.heraldgoa.in/Review/Tokyo-1964-How-Goans%E2%80%99-hearts-broke-Kenyans-too/177869|newspaper=O Heraldo|title=Tokyo 1964: How Goans' hearts broke, Kenyans too|date=25 July 2021|author=Fernandes, Cyprian|author-link=Cyprian Fernandes}} Cyprian Fernandes described him as "Always rated among the greats of the game. A gentleman, with an eternal smile."
Personal life and death
Outside of sports, Vaz worked as a school teacher and physical fitness instructor. He trained Olympic gold medalist Kipchoge Keino at the start of his track and field career.{{Cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m8IowBcPxHYC&q=%22anthony+vaz%22+%22manager%22|magazine=Kenya Today|volume=11–14|date=1965|title=Unknown title}} He later spent time in England and died in Lambeth on 7 August 1982, at the age of 49.
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Vaz, Anthony}}
Category:Alumni of the University of Winchester
Category:Kenyan male field hockey players
Category:Olympic field hockey players for Kenya
Category:Field hockey players at the 1956 Summer Olympics
Category:Field hockey players at the 1960 Summer Olympics
Category:Field hockey players at the 1964 Summer Olympics
Category:Place of birth missing
Category:Kenyan people of Indian descent
Category:Kenyan people of Goan descent
Category:Kenyan emigrants to the United Kingdom
Category:British people of Indo-Kenyan descent
Category:British people of Indian descent
Category:Sportspeople of Indian descent