Karachi Goan Association is a social and sports club in
Karachi
Karachi (; ur, ; ; ) is the most populous city in Pakistan and 12th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 20 million. It is situated at the southern tip of the country along the Arabian Sea coast. It is the former cap ...
,
Sindh
Sindh (; ; ur, , ; historically romanized as Sind) is one of the four provinces of Pakistan. Located in the southeastern region of the country, Sindh is the third-largest province of Pakistan by land area and the second-largest province ...
,
Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
.
Early history
In 1887 the foundation stone of the Goa-Portuguese Association building was laid, and in 1888 an imposing building was completed at a cost of Rs. 14,013. The building is a magnificent structure, and a popular Karachi landmark. The building has an extensive dance hall on the upper floor.The Live Mint 13 April 2012 /ref> There is a spacious stage for concerts, plays and operas. There are billiard and card rooms, table tennis rooms, a well furnished library, a well stocked bar and an outdoor tennis court.
The building was designed by
Moses Somake
Moses Somake ( – ) was a British architect known for designing several prominent buildings in British India. His works, built before the Partition of India and located in modern-day Pakistan, include the Edward House, BVS Parsi High School, Ka ...
, a Jewish architect of Iraqi origin.
In 1886 the Goa-Portuguese Association was established, with L.C. Gomes as the first President.
Cincinnatus Fabian D'Abreo
Cincinnatus Fabian D’Abreo was an administrator and politician in Karachi, British India.
Biography
He was born on 24 September 1862. His father, Manuel D’Abreo had migrated to Sindh in 1846. Cincinnatus was married to Maggie Gomes with who ...
was instrumental in starting the Association.
In 1925 Augustus D’Cruz built the main pavilion of the Association’s
gymkhana
Gymkhana () ( ur, جِمخانہ, sd, جمخانه, hi, जिमख़ाना, as, জিমখানা, bn, জিমখানা) is a British Raj term which originally referred to a place of assembly. The meaning then altered to den ...
on
Mohammad Ali Jinnah Road
Muhammad Ali Jinnah Road (), frequently abbreviated as MA Jinnah Road, is a major thoroughfare in central Karachi, Pakistan. The road was originally named Bandar Road ( ;''"Port Road"''), owing to the fact that it linked the city to the Port of ...
. The gymkhana formally opened in 1926 on a plot of land measuring 28,000 square yards. It is used for all outdoor and indoor sporting activities. It has two tennis courts, an indoor badminton court and a field for cricket, hockey and soccer.
In 1933 the
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is a cricket club founded in 1787 and based since 1814 at Lord's Cricket Ground, which it owns, in St John's Wood, London. The club was formerly the governing body of cricket retaining considerable global influence ...
team was feted by the Association during a visit to Karachi.
Karachi Goan Association
In 1936 the name of the Goa-Portuguese Association was changed to the Karachi Goan Association (KGA) with C.M. Lobo as its first President.Pakistan Today 9 October 2011 /ref>
Manuel Misquita
Manuel Misquita was a former Mayor of Karachi under the British Raj and President of Karachi Goan Association.Dawn 16 September 2012 /ref>
In 1975 Luke Andrades introduced Grandmaster
Ashraf Tai
Muhammad Ashraf Tai is a martial arts grandmaster, a Dan (rank), 10th degree Dan (Black Belt), the 2-time Afro-Asian Martial Arts Champion (1978-1979), the 9-time Pakistan Karate Champion, and one of the most famous Grandmaster (martial arts), ...
at the KGA Gymkhana and started Tai’s Karate Center.
1986 was the year KGA celebrated 100 years. From 2003 to 2012 the president was Valentine Gonsalves.
In 2011 the Karachi Goan Association celebrated 125 years. A special brochure highlighting its history was printed on the occasion. Migration to
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
and
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
has shrunk the club’s membership. In the 1940s the KGA had about 1,300 members, in 2012 there are only 483.
Sports
Peter Paul Fernandes
Peter Paul Fernandes M.B.E (15 September 1916 – 24 January 1981) was an Indian field hockey player who competed at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany. His selection made him the first Goan to represent India in hockey at the ...
, an Olympian, played with the KGA hockey team. His playing position was forward.
Ian Fyfe
Ian Fyfe was a cricketer, coach and a sports journalist from Karachi, Pakistan. He was educated at St Patrick's High School, Karachi.
A bowler at St. Patrick's, under the watchful eye of Jacob Harris and as a leading wicket taker for the Kara ...
, a leading wicket taker for the KGA cricket team, was among the top slow left arm spin bowlers of Karachi at that time. He was also a playing coach for the KGA cricket team.The Christian Voice 5 September 2007