Andy O’Connor (president of the union and one of its founders) reminisced about a cold night at the Actonville Stadium, a quarter of a century back, when the union was thrashed out.
“Unification came and Eastern Transvaal got its independence and was no longer a sub-union of Northern Transvaal,” said the president.
He added that the union started with very little money, with the then chairman of Northerns, Alan Jordaan, agreeing to give the new union R150 000 spread over three years.
“During the first year R14 000 was stolen, so we did quite well to come back from that,”
O’Connor said, adding that, on the field of play and at provincial level, the union progressed.
“In a short span of time, it won the UCB Bowl twice and won the SuperSport Series in the 2002/2003 season.
“It also played in the final of limited overs cricket, which was all done in a short space of less than 15 years.”
The president said that Easterns is a union that has produced many national players.
“It is a union that can feel proud of what it has done.
“I often say: ‘They turned to the franchise system because they couldn’t stand Easterns winning the SuperSport Series and beating Gauteng.’”
O’Connor referred back to the night at the old headquarters, PAM Brink Stadium, in Springs, where the union hosted the first Indian Tour match, and the time when Eastern Transvaal nearly scuttled the England Tour, with Corrie Jordaan nearly bowling out the English team.
He spoke of the time when the union was forced out of the PAM Brink Stadium, to move to Willowmoore Park, and praised the working staff who turned Willowmoore Park into a “cricket emporium”.
O’Connor had special praise for the strength of junior club cricket in the region, which he said is “probably the strongest in the country”.
“I take my hat off to the many former chairmen and current chairman,” he added.
He also thanked Impala Platinum for investing in youth cricket at Easterns.
Club award winners were:
• Fifth League: Geluksdal.
• Fourth League: Nigel.
• Third League (first half): Benoni Northerns.
• Third League (second half): Bakerton YS.
• Second League (first half and second half): Boksburg.
• First League: United.
• Women’s League: United.
• Colts League: Benoni Northerns.
• President’s League: Duduza.
• Chairman’s League: Nigel.
• Directors League: Springs Old Boys.
• Promotion League: Kempton Park.
• Premier League: Kempton Park
• T20 Battle of the Roses: Calypso Brothers
Individual award winners:
• Administration Excellence: Benoni Northerns and CBC Old Boys
• Umpire of the Year: Daliwonga Wambi.
• Scorer of the Year: Dagan Barnard.
• Women’s Club League Top Batswoman: Karen Woest (Kwa-Thema).
• Women’s Club League: Top Bowler: Kyla Styles (United).
• Primary Schools League winner: Laerskool Selection Park (Springs).
• High Schools League winner: Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen (Boksburg).
• High Schools T20 Competition winner: Benoni High School.
• Girls u-19 Schools League winner: Hoërskool Hugenote (Springs).
• Premier League Top Batsman: Justin Gamble (United).
• Premier League Top Bowler: Ruben Scheepers (Boksburg).
• Battle of the Roses Top Batsman: Casey Arnold.
• Battle of the Roses: Top Bowler: Israel Hlengani.
• Women’s Top Bowler: Sibongile Makamo.
• Women’s Top Batsman: Marlene Grieb.
• Women’s Player of the Year: Marlene Grieb.
• Special Award: SA U-19 Girls: Tumi Sekhukune.
• Semi-Pro Top Batsman: Grant Mokoena.
• Semi-Pro Top Bowler: Dylan Stanley
• Semi-Pro Player of the Year: Dylan Stanley
• Semi-Pro Players’ Player of the Year: Dylan Stanley.
• Long Service Award: Tony Nortje (Kempton Park).
• Twenty-Year Service Award: Happy Dlamini (Easterns staff).
• Ten-Year Service Award: Leonard Rajagapaul (Easterns staff).
• Ten-Year Service Award: Godfrey Nkosi (Easterns staff).
CLICK HERE for a GALLERY from the evening.
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