BOLAND CRICKET – A SYNTHESIS OF OUR PAST
“The present generation of South Africans bears the enormous responsibility for the outcome of tomorrow’s society.”
Krish Mackerdush - Boland Cricket Board 1991
The Historical opportunity to make fundamental changes in society is a rare one and thus this opportunity which is now available – we can only seize it or let it pass. This is our responsibility, our cross, our burden.
Chris Hani – Woodstock 1993
Sport in South Africa which was developed along the lines of race was insidiously evolving to the detriment of society at large. This reality reached “gestalt” in the now legendary words of Hasan Howa, “no normal sport in an abnormal society …” in the 70’s. These words were as much a wakeup call as it was a warning the subsequent actions thereof challenged the mindset of people to start a process to dismantle the existing status quo …
The Creation of the National Sports Congress replaced / substituted SACOS as internalized reactionary trait to become the “LOCOMOTIVE” of real change. The congress affiliates then become the “STOKERS” of change.
The stokers for change to compete non-racial sport a small group of dedicated people, principled, loyal, brave and yes sportspeople with political grounding. Henry Paulse was a sportsperson with leadership qualities that rose through the ranks to become the embodiment of the unification process ably assisted by Peter Lourens, Arthrob Pietersen, Wilfred Daniels and Charles Beukes in the congress and in Cricket by Pieter Williams, Gert Fortuin, Sakkie Cupido and Gert Booysen.
The consultative process to unify cricket should not be seen in isolation of the political scene. The changes that were to materialize send a serious message of unification in itself posed serious questions. The people mentioned above were convinced that the “LOCOMOTIVE” for non racial sport was exhausted and has lost its ability to energize and maintain its sport constituency and that Congress was the new vehicle to move on. The challenges in the Boland / Western Cape Region was to propagate a better life for all. ANC and a strong PAC / AZAPO – Unity Movement constituency whilst promoting the unification Agenda not being free yet. This all was happening in a rural milieu with strong Afrikanerbond structures and with the National Party still in control.
The first encounter with the opposition – SACU happened at a unification meeting at National between SACU and SACB. Frank Brache (WP & SACU) arranged that Henry Paulse and Graham Bam met, sat together and had an opportunity to speak. It was amazing. Both Graham and myself realized that we actually desire the same outcomes and that the opportunity to unite Boland Cricket was to be seized with both hands.
Graham Bam, Pieter Williams, Kevin Bridgens and Henry Paulse became the team that ultimately unified all cricket and formed the new Cricket Board after 62 meetings and numerous one on one engagements all over the region. Through these engagements issues about boundaries, facilities, strength vs strength, club colors, constitutional expectations and offices were discussed extensively.
The Principles of the NSC was endorsed and relentlessly pursued. The meaning of unification and resultant expectations grew. Resistance from other tendencies to derail the process, threats of sell outs (necklacing) were a reality and made the foursome very safety conscious, politically able and a source of information on all fronts.
During this time Lionel Roos (Ceres) and Ted Wucht (Durbanville) were visibly supportive. Oom Ted and Uncle Lionel were instrumental in many a discussion to come up with a simple solution that broke deadlocks that would have impacted on the process of unifying cricketers of all communities in the Boland.
Agreement was reached in an attempt to address the problem of boundaries that the N7 to Blouberg down to Durbanville bridging unto the R300 to Swartklip Road into the sea was a viable boundary between the Western Province and Boland. This agreement was actually endorsed by the NSC and such argument used to the University of Stellenbosch in Wineland Cricket. At that time the second code Athletics was already in Boland. We hope that rugby would follow.
With unification 129 clubs were registered. Some clubs had already unified some decidedly not like Worcester United, Worcester Moslems. Even in Wellington Bergriver developed through a Hilcrest, Sussex and Newtons marriage. Wellington (SACU) and Wellington (Boland SACB) united to form Wellington. We are still in the dark why Hillcrest, Sussex and Newtons were not invited to the Wellington unity. Frank Brache and Len Moses seem to have reservations to the 3 clubs. In an unseemly haste they unified denying the majority of cricketers in Wellington the opportunity to establish a “real” unified Wellington. The surprises and success of these processes surprised all as even Swellendam had unity. That unfortunately did not last. Boland had a vision that was build on the NSC principles.
- Unity – all clubs if two existed;
- Development – all spheres (play, admin, technical)
- Participation – Clubs (strength vs strength)
Boland (Bowl to Curry Cup)
B Team (Country to Districts)
School (All levels)
Tertiary
Police
SAWDF
Future Continuum
As for the future the following are proposed:
- Own Headquarters 1. University of Stellenbosch
2. Brackenfell
3. Paarl
- Cricket Academy Under 9 to Senior Level
1. Teams unified and coached
2. Indoor nets and dormitory
3. Outdoor nets x 16 wickets and nets
- Highest Competition
1. Bowl
2. Limited Overs (Henson & Hedges)
3. Multi Day Game Format
4. Professional Wing – Sponsors
5. Team
- Club Facilities
1. Assist Development Fund
2. Build relationships with municipalities
3. Develop admin capacity
4. University two teams – broader base of participation
Character of Boland
With unification two streams of society came together with different cultures and thus modus operandi.
Boland SACU - Strong structures with well established affiliates respecting authority and some pre-unity clubs from Varachia unification that were also well established and with facilities.
Boland SACB – Good club structure, 50 % new club structure, mistrust and usually with no facilities and individual agendas wap wap …
The first year of unification
As per agreement, unification would have a two year probationary period led the first year by Graham Bam and the second year to be determined by the SACB Grouping.
Graham Bam
Good administrator and hard worker. He was confronted in the first year by managing the unity process and teething problems that he steered with honesty and determination. This was also used to attempt to keep the status quo of centralized decision making. It went remarkably well but I was shocked by forces within the unification process trying to derail and discredit Graham from his own circles. I tried to be a good second in command and covered the process and also made lots of enemies as I was then perceived to have walked over or as a discredited failure of sport. It was said I have been bought. Graham laid a good foundation. Meetings tended to start at 18:00 and could continue to midnight.
The second year
When we met at Allandale Correctional Services Officers Club, Graham gave a report on the year’s activity which was accepted. A feeling of excitement was evident especially in the SACB grouping. Two co-opted members Micheal Le Cordeur and Cupido Rogers were added to the list of SACB to even out representatives.
I was uncomfortable as this left out Paarl and North West within the representatives. With Wellington over represented Mr. Booysen opted not to lead the second year nominating Henry Paulse to presidency seconded by General Hennie De Beer. The second year was marked by back biting and gossip mongering as the Interim Committee started to prepared for a first democratic election of the best man for the job. A priority list was drawn up; contact was made with Dr. Ali Bacher and a program of action drawn up. Battle plan and pursued in earnest.
DID YOU KNOW?
- Boland Cricket unearthed, nurtured and developed 5 International Players namely: Claude Henderson; Justin Ontong; Charl Langeveldt; Henry Williams and Roger Telemachus;
- Boland President Henry Paulse managed the South African A Team for 5 years;
- Boland Cricket is the first Cricket Federation to develop and own its own facility;
- Boland Cricket developed a first for Africa Cricket Academy;
- Boland hosted England, Australia, West India, India, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Netherlands, Bangladesh and Canada in its lifetime thus far;
- Boland Cricket won its first major tournament in 2002;
- Boland’s first captain was Terence Lazard;
- Omar Henry played his last year of cricket for Boland, became its Academy Manager and is now CEO;
- Boland has 17.8 hectares of land;
- Boland hosted 3 world cup games in 2003;
- Boland have Ted Wicht, Jannie Momberg, Graham Bam and Gert Booysen as Life Time Members;
- Boland developed Deon Smith who became SWD Coach, Deon Muller – Border, both played provincial cricket in Boland whilst Salig Nackerdien – Coco Cola Captain also coached in Boland;
- Bob Woolmer was Boland’s first coach, Eddie Barlow and Hilton Ackerman (all late) have done duty as Boland Coaches;
- Boland’s first CEO was Kevin Bridgens, now residing in Canada, Hondas Canadas CEO;
- Andre Bruyns, Pieter Williams and Moos Nicolas all did duty as CEO of Boland;
- The current Boland President is Dr. Peter Cyster
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