Leo Pinto – A Goalkeeper in Oblivion
“I would narrow down the angle for the penalty – corner hitter by advancing towards him. I would watch the pusher and take off” ~ Leo Hillary Knowles Pinto.
I hope the New Year has begun well for all of you. Season’s greetings to one and all. As you are aware, the Hockey India League will be commencing within a fortnight. There are no second thoughts here; this is going to revolutionize the chemistry of the game in our nation. The rise in quantum of finances in this game is a welcome development, isn’t it? Yes! The appalling times in Hockey are finally over. Within no time, we would be pondering over the wingers, markers, defenders, strikers and of penalties, corners, drag-flicks and reverse–hits. After all, Hockey is the game of our hearts and the beauty lies in scoring. But ever thought of those lonely men at the cage?
Let me put it this way. Do you belong to the pre–Independence era when the finest of works unfolded? Or the post-Independence era when Hockey continued to flourish for some time, and go from strength to strength? Are you from the 70’s when your parents told you those sweet stories of Indian Hockey’s glorious past? Or are you from the 90’s when you wished to narrate those treasured Hockey tales to your kids at night when before they went to sleep? Well, here’s one such cute story about a goalkeeper in oblivion. He goes by the name Leo Hillary Knowles Pinto.
Please be with me for a second!
Fail not to get his identity. He was an Indian of Portuguese descent born in Nairobi, the then East Africa on 11th April, 1914, exactly an year after Rabindranath Tagore won his Nobel prize for Literature. He was a Goan who lived in Bombay. At the tender age of 8, Pinto was sent to Bombay for decent academics. It was in the compound bordering his Byculla School that Pinto first played good sport. In fact, he was a wicket keeper in Cricket and was also good at Boxing, Soccer and Badminton alongside Hockey. Fortunately, Pinto preferred goalie pads to a Hockey stick in his early teenage years. And the rest is history.
His first major Hockey days were in the age old Aga Khan Hockey Tournament, which happens to be one of the oldest tournaments, representing the Byculla Rovers team. When his parents shifted from Nairobi to Bandra, Pinto represented St. Xaviers College in the elite company of Owen Ferreria, Owen Pinto, Wilie Fernandes, Fr. Fritz and Thimaya. Talent does knock at the door of opportunities and so was Pinto taken for a goodwill tour to Kenya under the leadership of Dhyan Chand. He then was seen on that plane to London for the 1948 games. Pinto was at his zenith during that London trip. Pinto’s priceless works in the cage against Holland in the semi finals are still considered the best. After the match, he said, “I knew the Dutch would rise to glory from seeing in London”. The moment of pride and uniqueness came in the finals against the hosts England. Pinto was fouled and was forced to keep aside his goal keeping pads. Unscathed by the situation, this brave heart did the scoring and brought home a gold medal. Thus, he holds a rare distinction of being a goalkeeper that scored in the Olympic finals.
He would later go on to transfer his wisdom to the national team as a coach for its only Olympic bronze in the 1972 games. Pinto was considered an eminent all rounder by his peers. He excelled as a player, as an administrator and as a coach.
Pinto emphasized the importance of an Astroturf in all corners of the country. He was humiliated on some occasions. He felt sorry about the not-so-glorious state of the game in the country and dreamed about its revival. Unfortunately, it did not happen in his life time.
Before he left us physically, Pinto gave a valuable message for a healthy life. His tips are:
1.Three glasses of water and a short walk.
2. Meditate, pray to God for forgiveness of sins and for a joyous successful day.
3. Breakfast of four dry almonds soaked overnight in water. Calcium and multi-vitamin tablets. Tea rather than coffee.
4. For meals eat polis made of bran rather than white bread. Refrain from eating red meat after attaining fifty years of age. Have fish, vegetables, fruit (bananas, papaya, apples). Occasionally eat chicken. Avoid rice, potatoes, biscuits, white bread, ghee, and chapattis. No drinking water during meals, only half an hour before or after a meal.
5. Two glasses of water at 10 a.m., two at 12 noon, two at 2.30 p.m., two at 6 p.m. and one before retiring to bed.
6. At least an hour’s sleep in the afternoon.
7. Brisk walk in the evening for about half an hour, freehand exercises either before or after walk.
8. Eat early at night, say 7.30 p.m. Go to bed by 10.30 p.m.
9. Never get constipated, have a dry fig to get good motion.
10. Never waste time, read books, do household work or outdoor jobs. In short, cultivate a disciplined life.
Our nation lost this legend at the age of 96 on 10th August, 2010.
He always represented the nation with pride and fervor.
Lastly, I’d like the faithful to remember this brave heart as one of the finest and the greatest cage men the game has ever been witnessed to.
May his soul rest in peace.
Regards,
Your Hockey fan.