Cricket South Africa has paid tribute to all the legends who recently passed away. Thank you for your contribution over the years to our sport: Yusuf ‘Gogs’ Adams, Goolam Rajah, Richard Dolley and Rafique Khota.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has learnt with sadness of the sudden passing of Yusuf ‘Gogs’ Adams on Monday afternoon at the age of 65. He had been diagnosed with Covid-19 the previous week.
He was a man who served cricket throughout his life, starting with his involvement as a club cricketer at Blue Bells and Primrose and going on to represent the Western Province Cricket Board as an opening batsman in seven matches between 1979 and 1989.
Unity came too late for the stylish left-hander, but he became one of the top youth coaches in the unified Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA), playing a pivotal role in the development of many talented youngsters who went on to play first-class cricket and in a number of cases for the Proteas.
He combined his coaching duties with being the grounds curator of the Primrose club at Rosmead.
His two sons shared his love for cricket and both contributed handsomely to the Adams legacy with Zaahier becoming the cricket correspondent for the Cape Times and Cape Argus and Ihtishaam succeeding Evan Flint as grounds curator at Six Gun Grill Newlands in 2019.
“It has been a very sad week for South African cricket as we reflect on the people we have lost who contributed so much to the well-being of the game and in many cases were continuing to do so,” commented CSA Acting Chief Executive Pholetsi Moseki.
“Yusuf Adams served the game in just about every imaginable capacity as player, coach, grounds curator and mentor and there are many cricketers who owe him a great deal for their own successes.
“I extend our deepest sympathy to his wife, Narriman and family, cricketing colleagues and friends.”
President Ashraf Burns paid tribute on behalf of WPCA.
“From a personal point of view, as part of United Cricket Club, I had the privilege and pleasure of playing against the traditional arch-rivals, Primrose, where Adams was a regular fixture in the team and was always difficult to remove as a batsman. On behalf of WPCA, during this difficult period, we send our heartfelt condolences to his family and we keep his wife, Narriman, and all those currently in the cricket fraternity suffering with Covid in our prayers.”
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has learned with great sadness of the passing of Goolam Rajah, one of the legendary figures of the post-unity period of South African cricket, this morning. He had been in failing health for some time.
Mr Rajah was 74 years old.
Goolie, as he was known by everybody who had anything to do with South African cricket and particularly the Proteas, served first as team manager and then logistics manager of the national men’s cricket team for close on two decades.
At the time of unity, he served on the inaugural Gauteng Cricket Board and was also a senior provincial selector and was co-opted on to the Transvaal Cricket Board executive at the time of the unity negotiations.
To the Proteas he was much more than part of the management team. He was a friend, confidant and adviser. In total, 107 players represented the Proteas during his time in more than 600 matches across the three formats. They will all remember him with great fondness and gratitude.
He personally considered his greatest achievement to be invited by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to manage the World XI against Australia, the No. 1 team in the world at the time, in a one-off Test match.
“It is a very sad day for the South African Cricket Family,” commented CSA Acting Chief Executive Pholetsi Moseki. “Goolam was a very special human being who has touched so many lives in a positive way in the 30 years we have enjoyed being a democratic cricket organization.
“We all have our special memories of him which we will treasure. He was truly a man who gave a great deal to the game of cricket and to everybody involved in it.
“I extend our deepest condolences to his wife, Shaheda, popularly known to us all as Poppy, his children, Mohammed Faeez and Zuraida, his extended family, his friends and colleagues both in the game of cricket and in the wider society,” he concluded.
Lawson Naidoo paid tribute on behalf of the CSA Board. “One can never have a successful team without a good administration behind them. Goolam played a major role in making sure that they were not side-tracked by off-the-field issues. During his tenure the Proteas enjoyed significant success, winning the ICC knock-out trophy (the precursor to the Champions Trophy) and the Commonwealth Games Gold Medal in 1998, achieving their best World Cup result with a tied semi-final against Australia in 1999, winning a Test series in England in 2008 and a first ever Test series win in Australia later the same year. These achievements speak for themselves.
“He was a humble man and true servant of the game.”
Graeme Smith paid tribute on behalf of the players. “Goolam was a true father figure who looked after the players like his own. He took care of everything with such detail that the players were able to focus totally on the cricket and that was why his tenure was so successful. The players were particularly appreciative of the way he looked after their wives and partners on away tours. We will indeed be fortunate to see his like again.”
CSA President Rihan Richards spoke on behalf of the Members’ Council. “His service to the game was legendary and exemplary. He was a role model for all to follow although almost impossible to emulate. We thank him and pay tribute to his family who had to manage without having him at home for long periods of time.”
- The Proteas players will wear black armbands for their T20 International match this evening as a gesture of respect. There will also be a minute’s silence before the start of play.
- SuperSport will be running a tribute before the start of tonight’s match.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has heard with sadness and profound shock of the passing of Richard Dolley at the age of 61 from the Covid-19 pandemic. At the time of his passing he was a member of the Eastern Province Cricket Board and Deputy Principal of Westering High School in Port Elizabeth.
He had a distinguished playing career as an all-rounder, representing the Eastern Province team under the jurisdiction of the South African Cricket Board (SACB) in 36 first-class matches between 1982 and 1991, scoring more than 1100 runs and taking 100 wickets.
“This is another sad day for the CSA family,” commented CSA Acting Chief Executive Pholetsi Moseki. “He was very much in the prime of his life as a cricket administrator and educator, two fields in which he had already offered a great deal to his community.
“The Dolley family is synonymous with cricket in the Eastern Cape. Both his sons, Corbyn and Brad, represented Eastern Province as did his younger brother, Gary, and his nephew, Josh.
“He was unfortunate that his playing career came to an end just as the unity process was being completed which offered cricketers of all backgrounds the chance finally to live their dreams on the stage they deserved.
“On behalf of the CSA family I extend our deepest condolences to his family, his colleagues in Eastern Province Cricket and Westering High School, and his friends,” concluded Mr Moseki.
CEO Dr Mark Williams paid tribute on behalf of Eastern Province Cricket. “Richard Dolley was a sportsman of excellence, competitive but one who understood the spirit of sport. He will be missed by many in the cricket fraternity, particularly in the Eastern Cape in our schools’ cricket.
“He served Eastern Province Cricket with dedication in the best interests of the game.”
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has learnt with sadness of the passing of Rafique Khota, one of the stalwarts of the Transvaal Cricket Board both as a player and administrator, on Tuesday.
He was 88 years old.
An opening batsman and medium-pace bowler he represented the Transvaal Indians, SA Indians as well as Transvaal during the South African Cricket Board of Control (SACBOC) era.
Although he was born in Nigel, he spent many of his formative years in the Surat District of India when he could not return home following the outbreak of World War II. When it became possible, he played for and captained the Johannesburg Indian High School. He also played for the Kohinoor Club which he captained for many years and also represented Wits University.
He made his provincial debut in 1955, one of the many highlights being an unbeaten innings of 83 against powerhouse Western Province that enabled Transvaal to win the Dadabhay Cup for the first time.
At the conclusion of his playing career he served as manager and as a selector of the SACBOC Transvaal Team that won the Dadabhay Cup in 1974/5 and was a selector during the first attempt at ‘unity’ in 1976.
“Rafique was one of the many cricketers who was denied the opportunity and the recognition that his talents deserved,” commented CSA Acting Chief Executive Pholetsi Moseki.
“On behalf of the CSA Family I extend our deepest condolences to his family, his friends and his cricket colleagues.”
