# Anthony Vaz

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**Anthony Querobino Exaltacao Vaz** (14 September 1932 – 7 August 1982) was a Kenyan [field hockey](/source/Field_hockey) player. He was Kenya's first [flag bearer](/source/Standard-bearer) and [captain](/source/Captain_(sports)) at the [Summer Olympic Games](/source/Summer_Olympic_Games). He competed at the [1956 Summer Olympics](/source/1956_Summer_Olympics), the [1960 Summer Olympics](/source/1960_Summer_Olympics) and the [1964 Summer Olympics](/source/1964_Summer_Olympics).

## Early life

Anthony Querobino Exaltacao Vaz was born on 14 September 1932 and was a [Goan](/source/Goans).[1][2] He attended and graduated from King Alfred's College (now known as the [University of Winchester](/source/University_of_Winchester)) in [Winchester](/source/Winchester), [England](/source/England).[3]

## Sporting career

Vaz was a member of the [Goan Institute](/source/Goan_Institute) in [Nairobi](/source/Nairobi), [Kenya](/source/Kenya), and later in [Mombasa](/source/Mombasa),[4] described as "most celebrated social and sports club within the East African Goan community."[5] He was a member of their [field hockey](/source/Field_hockey) team as a [right full back](/source/Right_full_back_(field_hockey)) as early as 1955.[6][7] Vaz learned under [Anthony D'Souza](/source/Anthony_D'Souza_(field_hockey)), considered "one of the greatest hockey coaches in Kenya."[8] He also played [cricket](/source/Cricket) and [football](/source/Association_football), being described as an "all-around sportsman."[9]

Vaz was called up to the [Kenya national field hockey team](/source/Kenya_men's_national_field_hockey_team) for the first time in 1956–to represent his country at the [1956 Summer Olympics](/source/1956_Summer_Olympics) in [Melbourne](/source/Melbourne), [Australia](/source/Australia).[7] 1956 was Kenya's inaugural appearance at the games, and Vaz was named both the overall team [captain](/source/Captain_(sports)) and the country's [flag bearer](/source/Standard-bearer).[2][10][11] The Kenya team placed 10th out of 12 teams in field hockey with a record of 2–2–2.[12]

Vaz continued playing for the national team and in 1959 represented them at the [East and Central African Championships](/source/East_and_Central_African_Championships), being an important piece of their tournament-winning squad.[5][7] The following year, he was selected to participate in the [1960 Summer Olympics](/source/1960_Summer_Olympics) in [Rome](/source/Rome), [Italy](/source/Italy), his second Olympic appearance.[1] Out of 16 teams, Vaz helped his country place eighth with a 2–2–2 record.[13]

At the 1960 Olympics, Vaz was interviewed by American journalist [Al Abrams](/source/Al_Abrams) of the *[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette](/source/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."[3] Vaz described his past Olympic experience and the state of sports in Kenya and nearby countries.[3]

In 1961, Vaz toured [Rhodesia](/source/Rhodesia) with the national field hockey team and the following year played matches against the [Pakistan national team](/source/Pakistan_men's_national_field_hockey_team).[7] He was noted as one of the players who always gave opposing teams "a good run for their money."[14] He was selected for his third and final Olympic appearance at the [1964 Summer Olympics](/source/1964_Summer_Olympics) in [Tokyo](/source/Tokyo), [Japan](/source/Japan), helping Kenya place sixth with a 4–1–3 record.[1][15] 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.[16] [Cyprian Fernandes](/source/Cyprian_Fernandes) described him as "Always rated among the greats of the game. A gentleman, with an eternal smile."[4]

## Personal life and death

Outside of sports, Vaz worked as a school teacher and physical fitness instructor.[7] He trained Olympic gold medalist [Kipchoge Keino](/source/Kipchoge_Keino) at the start of his track and field career.[17] He later spent time in England and died in [Lambeth](/source/Lambeth) on 7 August 1982, at the age of 49.[1]

## References

1. ["Anthony Vaz"](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/19474). *[Olympedia](/source/Olympedia)*

1. [Fernandes, Cyprian](/source/Cyprian_Fernandes); Da Costa, Norman (11 March 2017). ["Kenya hockey legend 'Alu' was world's greatest left winger"](https://nation.africa/kenya/sports/hockey/kenya-hockey-legend-alu-was-world-s-greatest-left-winger-371822). *[Daily Nation](/source/Daily_Nation)*

1. Abrams, Al (1 September 1960). ["Sidelights on Sports"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette/132136227/). *[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette](/source/Pittsburgh_Post-Gazette)*. p. 26. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. Fernandes, Cyprian. ["5. The Best of Mombasa Institute"](https://issuu.com/skipfernandes/docs/stars_next_door_book/s/11653626). – via [Issuu](/source/Issuu)

1. Fernandes, Cyprian. ["Goan Institute, Nairobi"](https://issuu.com/skipfernandes/docs/stars_next_door_book/s/11653641). – via [Issuu](/source/Issuu)

1. Fernandes, Cyprian (28 July 2023). ["GOAN SPORTS ICONS FROM EAST AFRICA - Albert Castanha: Greatest Goan all-round sportsman of his time"](https://www.thegoan.net/global-goenkar/goan-sports-icons-from-east-africa-albert-castanha-greatest-goan-allround-sportsman-of-his-time/101996.html). *The Goan EveryDay*. Retrieved 21 August 2023.

1. ["Pen-Pictures"](https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003221/19621205/183/0012). *[Civil and Military Gazette](/source/Civil_and_Military_Gazette)*. 5 December 1962. – via [British Newspaper Archive](/source/British_Newspaper_Archive)

1. Fernandes, Cyprian (August 25, 2023). ["GOAN SPORTS ICONS FROM EAST AFRICA: The lovable clown prince of sport"](https://www.thegoan.net/global-goenkar/goan-sports-icons-from-east-africa-the-lovable-clown-prince-of-sport/103074.html). *The Goan EveryDay*

1. ["Unknown title"](https://books.google.com/books?id=Oa0qAAAAMAAJ&q=%22anthony+vaz%22+%22manager%22). *[East Africa and Rhodesia](/source/East_Africa_and_Rhodesia)*. Vol. 33. 1956.

1. Njenga, Peter (2014). ["Joy, tears in first quest for Olympic glory"](https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/kenya-at-50/article/2000096981/joy-tears-in-first-quest-for-olympic-glory). *[The Standard](/source/The_Standard_(Kenya))*

1. ["'Best of luck' to Olympic team"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/132137803/). *[Manchester Evening News](/source/Manchester_Evening_News)*. 22 October 1956. p. 1. – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)

1. ["Hockey, Men"](https://www.olympedia.org/results/35641). *[Olympedia](/source/Olympedia)*

1. ["Hockey, Men"](https://www.olympedia.org/results/35685). *[Olympedia](/source/Olympedia)*

1. Fernandes, Cyprian (15 September 2016). [*Yesterday in Paradise: 1950-1974*](https://books.google.com/books?id=E60hDQAAQBAJ&dq=%22Anthony+Vaz%22+hockey&pg=PT69). [Balboa Press](/source/Balboa_Press). ISBN 9781504303446.

1. ["Hockey, Men"](https://www.olympedia.org/results/35743). *[Olympedia](/source/Olympedia)*

1. Fernandes, Cyprian (25 July 2021). ["Tokyo 1964: How Goans' hearts broke, Kenyans too"](https://www.heraldgoa.in/Review/Tokyo-1964-How-Goans%E2%80%99-hearts-broke-Kenyans-too/177869). *[O Heraldo](/source/O_Heraldo)*

1. ["Unknown title"](https://books.google.com/books?id=m8IowBcPxHYC&q=%22anthony+vaz%22+%22manager%22). *[Kenya Today](/source/Kenya_Today)*. Vol. 11–14. 1965.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Anthony Vaz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Vaz) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Vaz?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.