It´s late in the evening and the streets are deserted. But in the failing light, sounds of the crack of a field hockey ball can be heard as a group of boys hone their skills.

This was the ritual carried out almost every evening at “Bhoggia Stadium.´´ It hardly resembled a field or a stadium, but happened to be a patch of murram behind the Railway quarters´ home of a Mr. Bhoggia off Park Road. It was here where some of Kenya´s greatest hockey players received their early training.

And, not surprisingly, most of our Olympians were educated at Dr. Ribeiro´s which also produced some excellent sportsmen and women in other fields.

And these Olympians, who became household names in the country, will willingly tell you that the man who was responsible for their success was the late Anthony de Souza, who for many years was the school´s vice-principal and taught English. De Souza had a knack of getting the best out of his charges and those who did not make the Olympic or provincial teams did well with their local clubs.

Among those who achieved Olympic glory were Hilary Fernandes, Silu Fernandes, Leo Fernandes, Reynolds D'Souza, Alu Mendonca, the late Anthony Vaz and Edgar and Egbert Fernandes.

And what an honour it was for Vaz, who was rated among the world´s finest fullbacks, to be chosen the country´s flag-bearer when Kenya made its Olympic debut in Melbourne in 1956. Mendonca was also a member of the squad.

Mendonca, who went on to become one of the world´s best left-wingers, captained his country four years later in Rome. He had the unique honour of going to the Games on four occasions as a player and then as Kenya´s national coach in 1972 and 1976.

Silu Fernandes and brothers Hilary and Leo who reside in Toronto and the other set of brothers - Edgar and Egbert - who live in Australia, all made three Olympic appearances.

Several others represented Kenya, but missed out on the Olympic experience. Two others who received their education at Dr. Ribeiro´s - fullback George Moraes and goalkeeper Roland Colaco - went on to represent Uganda.

Women making their mark in hockey internationally included current Torontonians Mitelia Paul, Melba de Souza and Teresa Hendricks and Ellen Ahluwalia who lives in Melbourne.

Henry Braganza (Toronto) excelled in table tennis, winning Kenya and East African titles. His sister Alice de Souza was crowned Kenya badminton champion and so was her daughter Wendy Huets. All three now reside in Toronto.

Jacinto Fernandes, now in England, won the Kenya men´s badminton title while Toronto resident Michelle Ribeiro and the late Gladys Rebello represented Kenya at table tennis. Cajetan de Souza, now in Australia, represented the country at tennis.

The school also produced two excellent sprinters in Louis Kebaso and John Owiti who went on to don Kenya colours in international competition.

Cornelius Monteiro (England), of the Kenya Police, was a top boxing administrator who became the first Goan to referee at the Olympic Games.