Bizos joins JCC in honouring cricket great Michael Holding

A spectacular gathering of greats took place at the Joburg Cricket Club (JCC) in Bertrams on January 24.

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The event saw 13 of the club’s longstanding benefactors being named as honourary life vice-presidents and honourary life members, including West Indies fast bowling great, Michael Holding, who was on a visit to South Africa.

Hoosain Ayob and Dr Ali Bacher were among two former South African cricketers with ties to JCC, whose names were also unveiled on the club’s honours board.

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Bacher was unable to attend but expressed his appreciation through a letter sent from Australia, where he is currently on a visit.

JCC chairperson Indarin Govender spoke volumes of the occasion and said it was important to give credit where it’s due.

“It’s a wonderful occasion for us to honour the ones who continue to give their time to get the work done at the club, without whose contribution, we wouldn’t be able to make a difference through cricket in the inner-city,” said Govender.

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Meanwhile, speaking at the event, Holding noted with admiration the social impact of community cricket clubs and took guests on a journey back to his early playing days which began at the tender age of 10.

“That was my grounding,” said Holding.

“My father was a member of a very big club in Jamaica. However, given how young I was then, there was no real place for me at the club.

“So I began to play cricket with children in the area who were without any shoes or cricket gear, but who persisted playing the sport out of the sheer love they had for the game.”

He added, “Those are the type of people that cricket clubs need – people who will help youngsters,” and urged people, especially those who give of their time or resources to clubs in need, to not think about how they can in turn benefit from their philanthropic efforts.

Gracing the event with his presence, aged 91, or as avid cricketers would say, ‘in his innings of 91 not out’, George Bizos – himself an honourary life vice-president of the club for many years – said it pleased him to see others being honoured in this way.

“What this occasion means to me is what I believe in, that South Africa belongs to all who live in it,” noted Bizos.

“I am 100 per cent a follower of Nelson Mandela who repeatedly said those words, and I would appeal to those who avoid them to utter them because that is our future.”

Ayob, speaking on co-fast bowler Holding, said, “As a fast bowler myself, I used to read about this man and would watch him bowl. He is such a simple, down-to-earth man. We invited him and he agreed to come without a moment’s hesitation.”

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