THE Nairobi Gymkhana began as a humble shack on land allocated to the Indian Association by the Governor of Kenya in 1927. It was then called the Suleman Verjee Indian Gymkhana. However, the shack itself was intended to provide more than a last refuge for drinkers and gamblers, for the Indian community wanted a place where they could unleash their sporting aspiration.

From those humble – and notorious – beginnings, Jahangir Jabbar, the first manager, a cricketer adept at both bowling and batting, saw the Nairobi Gymkhana on its way to become one of Kenya’s best clubs. Jabbar, legend has it, would often wake up in the middle of the night to see if all the lights were switched off and all the taps were tightly closed. And he would often pedal around Nairobi on his bicycle knocking on doors to remind members to pay their dues.