Legendary cricketer and devoted community servant Gulamabbas (Tommy) Janmohamed has passed away, leaving wonderful memories in the hearts of many.
Gulamabbas, more popularly known as “Tommy”, was born in Mombasa in 1937 and attended Technical High School where he is still remembered.
He participated in all sports played at the Jaffery club in Mombasa but his passion was cricket. He represented the club for many years and captained its team as well as opening the batting for the Coast Cricket Association team. At Jaffery’s he boasted an incredible record and reputation, and he was ever ready to share his knowledge of the game with young players.
He also represented the club as a fine tennis player, winning his first championship as Uganda’s Open Champion for tennis in 1951 and partnering with the late Yusuf Karim for a number of years to win the Coast doubles title. In the doubles squad he helped the club win the Macmillan Cup Kenya inter-club tournament in the early seventies.
Football was another sporting activity Tommy took interest in. Playing on the wing, he was well known for his corner kicks and even played in the MDFA league. He also sat on the Managing Committee of the club for a number of years and represented it on the Coast Cricket Association Council.
Great role model
In 1990, he made the move to England accompanied by his family. In London he began to develop a strong relationship with the youth of the community and was always looked up to as a great role model.
He genuinely believed that the affairs and future of our community could be changed through the power of further education. Therefore, he continued to encourage the youth to use their opportunities to seek education and use it for the benefit of the greater good, always giving back to their community.
Not only did he encourage the youth around him in London to develop themselves, but he continued to have a strong affinity with youth in Africa and encouraged international students to come to pursue their further education abroad.
Passion for faith, community and family
He became a Trustee of Stanmore Jamaat and continued to serve his community as the President of the Seniors Group in London, inspiring members to keep pursuing a happy and fulfilling life, remaining active within their families and communities. He organised day trips to encourage other seniors to continue doing the things they loved, also organising three visits to Paris, one to Tunisia and one to Kenya.
Today, many people have great memories of those trips as well as of him because of the energy he brought to his own life and that of others. Tommy was an extremely passionate man, especially when it came to his faith, his community, and his family.
He leaves behind his wife Zehrabanu, two sons and two daughters: Mohamed, Shams, Mansura, Fatemah and ten grandchildren.
Read here the tribute by Br Mohamed Khaku of Allentown, USA.