Sikh Union Club Centenary Celebrates Kenya’s Sikh Hockey Legends

Centenary celebrations are rare milestones, shaped by decades of triumphs, challenges, unforgettable moments, and cherished memories that leave a lasting legacy for future generations.

Those fortunate enough to witness such occasions often become part of history themselves, either as participants or custodians of stories that inspire generations to come. Earlier this month, the premises of Sikh Union Club, recognized as the oldest Sikh club outside India, came alive with high-quality competitions in hockey, cricket, badminton, golf, darts, and treasure hunts. The celebrations also brought together past, present, and future stars of Africa’s Sikh community through a series of reunions and commemorative events.

As the festivities unfolded, many chapters from the club’s historic journey were revisited, highlighting the extraordinary sporting contributions of the Sikh community on international platforms.

The history of Sikh Union Club is filled with remarkable stories of both individual excellence and family legacies. Among the most celebrated is the story of the Marwa brothers, all four of whom played hockey at the international level. Three represented Kenya in the Olympic Games, while two also competed in the Hockey World Cup for their adopted nation.

The Marwa brothers rose to prominence in the late 1960s when Amarjit Singh Marwa and Harvinder Singh Marwa, popularly known as “Gora,” were selected to represent Kenya at the 1968 Mexico Olympics. That edition of the Olympic Games carried a unique distinction: the number of Sikh players representing Kenya exceeded those representing India.

Avtar Singh Sohal “Tari,” Surjeet Singh Panesar “Junior,” Kirpal Singh Bhardwaj, Davinder Singh Deegan, Amarjeet Singh Marwa, Harvinder Singh Marwa “Gora,” and Jagjit Singh Kular not only represented Kenya but also wore white turbans tied in a distinctive African style during official ceremonies.

It was perhaps one of the earliest moments when turbaned Sikhs from countries beyond India emerged as global ambassadors of hockey, a legacy that continued until 1988, when Inderjit Matharu “Koolie” became the last turbaned Sikh to represent Kenya in the sport.

Amarjit Marwa and Harvinder Marwa later went on to represent Kenya again at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Their brother, Satpal Singh Marwa, was selected for the 1976 Montreal Olympics. However, controversy surrounding the New Zealand rugby team’s tour of South Africa prompted several African nations, including Kenya, to boycott the Games. As a result, Satpal Marwa, along with the rest of the Kenyan contingent, had to leave the Olympic Village before competing, missing his opportunity to participate in the Olympics.

During the centenary celebrations in Nairobi, I had the opportunity to meet the Marwa brothers.

“Though we have a home far away from Nairobi, we made it a point that we all four brothers came here to join the celebrations,” remarked Amarjit Marwa.

Like many Olympians and World Cup players who once represented Sikh Union Club, the Marwa brothers were felicitated at a gala banquet organized to mark the conclusion of the centenary celebrations.

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