Cricket South Africa (CSA) has learnt with great sadness of the passing this morning of Andrew George O’Connor, at 73 years old, former president of the Eastern Cricket Union, and a long-serving member of both the CSA Board and Members’ Council.
He also served the game as an umpire at first-class level and was the longest-serving president of Easterns, as well as the first chairperson of the Eastern Titans franchise.
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CSA acting president Rihan Richards said O’Connor gave a lifetime of service to the game he loved.
“His contribution to the administration of cricket at the highest level was much respected and I valued his input as a colleague.
“He also always brought a touch of humour to our deliberations.”
Dr Stavros Nicolaou, chairperson of the CSA Interim Board, said it is always sad to lose an exemplary administrator and senior member of the CSA family.
“Particularly one who gave so much of his time, effort and life to the game of cricket.”
CSA acting CEO Pholetsi Moseki said they have lost one of the game’s great administrators.
“He was a great servant of the game at just about every level.
“On behalf of the CSA family, I extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and many cricketing colleagues around the country.”
Easterns president Thato Moagi said the Eastern Cricket Union will cherish O’Connor’s memory.
“He played a leading role in enabling the game to flourish in our region, and this is borne out by the successes of our senior provincial team in recent seasons and the contributions our players have made to the Eastern Titans franchise.”
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Chief exective officer of the Africa Cricket Association Cassim Suliman, a Benonian also known as “Mr Cricket”,
said that O’Connor contributed immensely to provincial and national cricket at all levels.
“He was one of the founding fathers of Easterns and he was involved in the unification of South African cricket,” he said.
“He served as president of Easterns, chairman of the Eastern Titans, chairman of Cricket Affairs at Cricket South Africa and he was an executive board member of CSA too.
“Andy was a person who helped and assisted anyone with regards to the game.
“I will also always remember him as a very kind-hearted person. He is a man who will be sorely missed – a legend who assisted communities at all levels. It is such a great loss for Benoni.”
O’Connor is survived by his two sons, Sean, who represented the Eastern provincial side from 1997 to 2012, and Gareth.
Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later stage.
