Vaz was a member of the Goan Institute in Nairobi, Kenya, and later in Mombasa,[4] described as "most celebrated social and sports club within the East African Goan community."[5] He was a member of their field hockey team as a right full back as early as 1955.[6][7] Vaz learned under Anthony D'Souza, considered "one of the greatest hockey coaches in Kenya."[8] He also played cricket and football, being described as an "all-around sportsman."[9]
Vaz continued playing for the national team and in 1959 represented them at the East and Central African Championships, being an important piece of their tournament-winning squad.[5][7] The following year, he was selected to participate in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy, his second Olympic appearance.[1] Out of 16 teams, Vaz helped his country place eighth with a 2–2–2 record.[13]
At the 1960 Olympics, Vaz was interviewed by American journalist Al Abrams of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, who noted that he was a "dark, handsome lad of 27 who comes from Kenya, an English province in East Africa, some thousands of miles away from Rome" and that he "spoke perfect English."[3] Vaz described his past Olympic experience and the state of sports in Kenya and nearby countries.[3]
In 1961, Vaz toured Rhodesia with the national field hockey team and the following year played matches against the Pakistan national team.[7] He was noted as one of the players who always gave opposing teams "a good run for their money."[14] He was selected for his third and final Olympic appearance at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, helping Kenya place sixth with a 4–1–3 record.[1][15] A modern source about Kenyan field hockey noted that Vaz was one of the players who "easily" could have been considered the best Goan at the Olympics at the time.[16]Cyprian Fernandes described him as "Always rated among the greats of the game. A gentleman, with an eternal smile."[4]
During his sporting career, Vaz's height was 156 cm (5 ft 1 in) and his weight was 64 kg (141 lb).[1]
Personal life and death
Outside of sports, Vaz worked as a school teacher and physical fitness instructor.[7] He trained Olympic gold medalist Kipchoge Keino at the start of his track and field career.[17] He later spent time in England and died in Lambeth on 7 August 1982, at the age of 49.[1]
