Zeno Fernández

Born to parents who had emigrated from the Indian state of Goa, Zeno Fernández was born on the island of Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean and represented his country at the East African Hockey Championships whilst still a teenager. He left his native island prior to the Zanzibar Revolution and studied architecture in Nairobi, Kenya for five years before receiving an offer to study for a masters degree in Mexico. The sport of hockey was little played in Mexico at the time of his arrival in the country and Fernández soon became involved in the setting up of a national team.

After gaining citizenship he became a mainstay of Mexican hockey and captained their team at the 1968 Olympics. His goal against Japan was Mexico’s first in international competition. The following year Fernández was appointed coach to both the men’s and women’s national teams and remained in this position for over a decade.

During his tenure the Mexican men’s team won silver (1971) and bronze (1975 & 1979) at the Pan American Games and qualified for the 1972 Summer Games whilst the women’s team participated in three FIH World Cups with a best finish of 7th in 1976. Known as “Chief” on the hockey field, Professor Fernández gave up his coaching positions in 1982 but remained involved in the administration on the sport. In 1999 he was inducted into the Mexican Sports Confederation Hall of Fame.