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IN 2017, Seano Naidoo decided to re-establish his family’s beloved Durban-based cricket club, the Puntans Hill Sports Club, but in another province, Gauteng.
While the Durban club folded in 1960 due to the lack of financial support and challenges not within its control, Seano’s renamed club, the Naidoo Cricket Oval, is making strides at its base in Hawkins Estate, Johannesburg.
Last week, Seano, 49, added a sentimental touch to the current club’s infrastructure.
He took an original 1956 team photograph of his uncles, who comprised the Puntans Hill Sports Club, and placed it in a handmade frame. The wood from the frame was salvaged from seats from the Wanderers Stadium.
“The wood, bearing the weight of history, was recently salvaged from the iconic Wanderers Stadium. We wanted to integrate that painful past, where the family team could not gain recognition, into our hopeful present,” said Seano, the chairman of the Naidoo Cricket Oval.
“Even the Naidoo Cricket Oval sign is crafted from the wooden stands that were removed from the Wanderers Stadium. These seats were generally reserved for non-whites during apartheid.”
Seano, who used his leadership in financial services to build Naidoo Cricket Oval, said the pieces, proudly displayed on the ground and clubhouse, served as a reminder “of how far we’ve come as a nation and as a club”.
“Through these powerful acts of remembrance and continuous action, we hope to move forward,” he added.
Seano said his uncles were avid cricketers and he learnt the sport from them.
He still plays cricket at the club.
“I was born and raised in Puntans Hill. The two generations before me were the founders of the original Puntans Hill Cricket Club in the early 1950s. Their legacy shaped my path. I grew up hearing stories about what they experienced, and I felt a strong, almost inherent pull to that history. That was why, in February 2017, I revived the club but in a different province.
“I took over what was a previously abandoned and dilapidated sports facility. To see it now, thriving as a beacon of hope for cricketers from all backgrounds, is truly remarkable.
“I deeply believe sport, especially cricket, is a unique vehicle for transforming lives, and that conviction led me to bring Puntans Hill back to life here in Johannesburg. The revival has been going incredibly well, exceeding even our initial expectations. What I find most interesting about the club today, is how I get to play cricket, while simultaneously being involved in developing communities.”
Last year, the club celebrated success on the field, with its ladies team making history by winning both the T20 and 50-over leagues. The men’s side followed through, securing two league trophies last year, and the coveted Macrocomm T20 Cup this year.
“But our greatest pride comes from the work we do beyond the boundary.”
The club’s NPO, said Seano, operated under the name Puntans Hill Sports Club.
“It operates as a social enterprise led by myself and Keratile Pekane, the director of the Betterman Program, which supports young men and women in cricket, as well as Vinesh Naidoo, the director of sport.
“We are an award-winning organisation because we actively champion the lives of all our cricketers and their families, both men and women, through initiatives like our flagship Betterman Academy. We provide young people with mentorship, leadership skills, and access to crucial technology learnerships and tuition.”
The club also has a thriving farming program that provides free vegetables to families in the community.
There is also a Puntan’s Reading Room Project.
“This initiative is particularly close to my heart. It has already run successfully, focusing on driving literacy and reading among South African kids aged 7 to 12 through engaging, interactive read-aloud sessions. We believe in the slogan ‘Let’s Read Together,’ as it embodies our goal of igniting imagination and fostering a love for learning, ultimately emancipating households through access to knowledge.”
Asked why he renamed the Gauteng-based club, he said: “This oval is now named the Naidoo Cricket Oval as a direct ode to my ancestors, the Naidoo founders of the original club in Durban. The idea to rename the oval and tie it to our history came naturally, as a way to honour our roots and the legacy of our families, who fought for a place in sport. It is a dedication to my family members.”
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Reviving a legacy: The Naidoo Cricket Oval’s journey in Johannesburg – africannewsagency.com
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