Pakistan’s first Olympic hockey gold in 1960 heralded the national sport’s finest era. Since then, Pakistan won two Olympics golds (1960 and 1968) and one silver (1964), two Asian Games golds (1962 and 1970) and one silver (1966), along with the first World Cup gold in 1971.

Pakistan would play preparatory bilateral series ahead of each of these title tournaments. The place which they most frequented for the training trips wasn’t any European country, nor was it India or Australia. It was the East African country of Kenya.

The matches with Kenya were closely contested. In 1960, en route to the Olympics, Pakistan won the series with Kenya by two matches to one. Before the 1962 Asian Games, Pakistan beat them 3-1. In 1966, on the way to the Asian Games, Pakistan beat them 2-1. In 1968, Kenya hosted an international festival which was participated in by five countries. Pakistan finished second to Kenya on points, after the two teams drew 2-2.

Kenya too toured Pakistan in 1962, 1968 and 1969. The benefit was mutual. Kenya finished 7th, 6th and 8th at the 1960, 1964 and 1968 Olympics respectively. And at the 1971 World Cup, they stunned the entire hockey world by finishing fourth — the best performance by an African men’s team at the World Cup or Olympics.

Famous Kenyan hockey player Avtar Singh Sohal was in Pakistan recently. He remembers the good old days of Pakistan-Kenya hockey and how he helped Pakistan get its last Olympic gold

Avtar Singh Sohal, also fondly known as ‘Tari’, is the most famous Kenyan hockey player of all time. He played in four Olympics from 1960 to 1972, captaining Kenya in three. He also led his country’s team at the 1971 World Cup. He made 167 international appearances — a world record for many years. One of the world’s best defenders of his time, he was also a fearsome penalty corner striker.

The sprightly 85-year-old, 6 foot 2 inch Avtar recently visited Pakistan with his better half Rupa. “We are on a religious tour, visiting Sikh holy sites in various towns of Pakistan,” he informed Eos.

While recalling Kenyan hockey’s halcyon days, he says: “Hockey was the most popular sport among the people of Indian origin. The Kenyan national team comprised entirely of them — mainly Sikhs, plus Goan Christians and Muslims. The native Africans were crazy after soccer.”

All the communities had active hockey clubs. “The three Nairobi clubs, the Sikh Union Club, the Goan Institute and the Sir Ali Muslim Sports Club, provided the bulk of international players to Kenya,” recalls Avtar. “However, these clubs had members from other communities as well. There were also other teams, such as the Police Club, the Railways Club and the Premier Club, with their own grounds. The schools also boasted hockey fields with regular inter-school tournaments.”

He adds that hockey was not confined to the capital, and was also widely played in Mombasa, Kisumu and Nakuru.

During his stay in Lahore, Avtar attended a function to honour hockey’s legendary forward Shahnaz Sheikh. He met his contemporary Pakistani hockey stars, including Dr Tariq Aziz, Pakistan’s victorious captain at the 1968 Olympics. They recalled the Pakistan/Kenya hockey ties of the 1960s.

Tariq Aziz recollects the trips: “I toured Kenya four times to witness an electric atmosphere during the matches, with jam-packed stadiums. Kenyan Muslims, mostly of Punjabi origin, supported Pakistan. Meanwhile, Kenyan Sikhs and Hindus rooted for the home side.” Avtar chips in: “When Kenya played India, the loyalties were reversed. Muslims clapped for Kenya while Sikhs and Hindus cheered for India.”

Tariq Aziz adds about those matches with Kenya: “Those series helped Pakistan develop suitable combinations for the Olympics and Asian Games, apart from giving excellent match practice.

“The tours were long,” adds Aziz. “We also played side-matches in Kenya and matches against neighbouring countries, such as Uganda, Tanganyika and Zanzibar [the latter two united in 1964 to form Tanzania]. These teams too comprised of Asians. Uganda was a formidable opponent.”

Avtar endorses: “Hockey was very well-organised in Kenya, which produced good talent. However, the series with Pakistan played a pivotal role in enabling Kenya to perform so well in the international arena. Kenya narrowly failed to make the semi-finals in three successive Olympics.

“In 1960, there were four pools of four teams each. We had topped our pool but lost in the quarter-final in extra time. 1964 saw 15 teams but two pools. Kenya finished third in the pool, just one point behind Australia and couldn’t qualify for the semis. The closest we came to making it to the last four was in 1968. There were 16 teams and two pools. Kenya and Australia finished on equal points at the conclusion of the pool stage, resulting in a match to determine second place in the pool. We lost 2-3.”

Lady luck finally smiled upon Kenya at the inaugural World Cup in 1971.

“We made it to the semis,” beams Avtar. “As a matter of fact, Kenya should have been in the final. In the semi-final, we came across hosts Spain. It was scoreless deep into the second half, when the Spanish goalkeeper made a goal line clearance using the back stick. We were denied a clear penalty stroke. The match went into extra time and Kenya lost 0-1. The third position playoff against India, too, went into extra time. We lost 1-2. With four goals, I was joint second-top scorer behind Pakistani legend Tanvir Dar.”

About the decline of Kenyan hockey, Avtar says: “Kenya gained its independence from Britain in 1963. The Asians there were practically British citizens, holding British passports.” Since independent Kenya required giving up the British passport, Asians migrated in large numbers to Britain. And hockey suffered with their departure. Most of the hockey clubs didn’t survive.

Kenya’s last appearance at the Olympics was way back in 1988. “We are presently 75th in world rankings,” says Avtar. “However, Tari stayed put in Kenya,” he adds about himself. “My Sikh Union Club is still very active and we boast one of the only two synthetic turfs in Kenya,” he says.

After retiring as a player, Avtar remained associated with the game in various capacities. “I took up coaching and was the Kenyan national team coach from 1978-88. Around the same time, I picked up the whistle and was awarded an FIH International Umpires badge in 1980.

“I also visited Pakistan as a judge for the 1992 Champions Trophy and later to conduct an FIH umpiring course. In 1988, I attended the Champions Trophy in Lahore as a guest of the Pakistan Hockey Federation [PHF], a great honour. In 2000, I was awarded FIH’s ‘Diploma of Merit’ for distinguished services rendered to hockey.”

In fact, Pakistan hockey’s last Olympic gold in 1984 also has Kenya and Tari’s contribution. Avtar explains: “For the lone African spot at the 1984 Olympics, FIH announced a best of three match series between the continent’s top ranked teams, Kenya and Egypt. I always enjoyed good relations with the late Brigadier M.H. Atif, who was serving as the secretary PHF then. At my request, Atif arranged training for Kenya in Karachi. That paid off and we easily defeated Egypt.

“At the 1984 Olympics, Pakistan and Kenya were in the same pool. The last match of the pool pitted Kenya against Holland. Kenya was already out of the semi-final race and Britain had topped the pool. For the second position, it was Pakistan, who had played all their matches, or Holland. To qualify, Holland needed to defeat Kenya by five goals. Brigadier Atif, who was also the Pakistan team’s manager then, told me, Kenya’s head coach, in Punjabi, ‘Tari, all of Pakistan looks to Kenya.’ And I replied, ‘I have already planned the match strategy accordingly.’

“I made it clear to the Kenyan team that its prime task was not to score goals but to deny goals. We packed the midfield and defence, with only one player up front. Holland could only win by 3-0. Pakistan was in the last four, and the rest is history.”

The writer is a freelance sports journalist based in Lahore.
He can be contacted at Ijaz 62@hotmailcom

Published in Dawn, EOS, November 24th, 2024