Gurcharan Singh Kaler
Gurcharan Singh Kaler, popularly known as Channi, was born in Dar-es-Salaam. Tanganyika (now Tanzania) on 19 September 1943. He was educated at Government Indian Secondary School in Dar-es-Salaam.
His father, Sher Singh Kaler, was a prominent member of Khalsa Sports Club in Dar-es-Salaam in the 1940s and 50s. Khalsa Sports Club were in those days one of the top Clubs in East Africa and won the M R D'Souza Gold Cup in 1954.
The Gold Cup was the Blue Riband of East African Hockey and played in Nairobi, Kenya during the Easter weekend. With winning the Gold Cup went the title of unofficial East African Champions.
Therefore, it was no surprise that Channi took up hockey at an early age. He represented his school team and later joined Khalsa Sports Club.
He came to the UK for further education at Cardiff University in the winter of 1962.
He played for Cardiff University team and was awarded his University Colours for hockey in 1964.
He also played for Whitchurch Hockey Club. He joined Cardiff Hockey Club in 1965 and played for the first team until 1975.
In 1972, he was the Founder Member and Chairman of Cardiff Punjabis which combined Indian & Pakistani players of Punjabi origin playing hockey in South Wales. This Invitation side played in Festivals, Indoor Tournaments and Six-a-side Tournaments in UK, Germany and France.
He took over as the captain of the second team in 1975 and led the team to 2nd X1 League and Cup wins in the years 1975 to 1980.
He was the Chairman of the Club from 1989 to 1991.
After retirement in 2008, he has been involved with keeping the Club website updated..
He lives with his family in Caerphilly, South Wales.