Cricket robbed of fine wicketkeeper
Ebrahim ‘Chicken’ Bhamjee, who recently passed on could have become one of the game’s finest wicketkeepers, had it not been for the political turmoil during his playing days, a local administrator has said.
The Botswana Cricket Association (BCA) chairperson, Bhamjee passed on recently and was laid to rest in Gaborone over the weekend. BCA fixtures and publicity secretary, Sumod Damodar said Bhamjee would have gone on to be one of the best glove men in the game.
He played school and provincial cricket in South Africa, featuring for the then Transvaal. “He had a lot of involvement with cricket locally and regionally.
He started playing cricket in South Africa and would have gone on to become a stalwart internationally had it not been for the (political) situation at that time. Some of the commentators say if he had played where he deserved to play, he would have been by far the best wicketkeeper that South African cricket had witnessed,” Damodar said.
He said the glowing tributes from commentators, particularly in South Africa, was the testimony of Bhamjee’s influence during his playing days. His career was cut short, with Damodar saying he played up to his early 20s before quitting the game on principle.
“He was offered money to play, but there was a game featuring one team where he did not agree with some issues. He was a man of character. He then left (South Africa) for Botswana.” Damodar said Bhamjee had left an indelible mark on Botswana cricket, since his first involvement in 1983.
“As far as cricket in Botswana is concerned he played a low key role, in terms of publicity. Most of the cricketers of the current era do not appreciate who he was and what he could have been... He had a lot of vision of taking the game forward,” Damodar said.
Bhamjee was one of the pioneers of the BCA as he came together with other professionals to set up the body. “Football was his other passion. He was a natural sportsman.
Those who appreciate and understand the making of a wicketkeeper, understand that wicket keepers are not made but born. I personally played with him when he was already in his 40s and I could see what we missed in the world of international cricket.
I had the pleasure of being the bowler with him behind the stumps, he was magical.” He belonged to the last of the breed of cricketers; players and administrators alike, who had commitment and passion, Damodar said. “He had principles that he stuck to. He had the character and overall compassion for humanity. Now money dominates, in the past, it was honour, dignity and the pride of the crest.
Money was secondary, now it’s money first. It’s difficult for us who worked with him, it will be difficult to carry the torch. It’s not only the physical loss but the loss in total,” Damodar added. National team captain, Karabo Motlhanka described Bhamjee as a father who did a lot for the sport. “Uncle Chicken was like a father to many of us as players and we are heartbroken at the news we received last week. He was someone who could relate with us and whenever we needed his help, he would be willing to listen, even if it was off the cricket field. We will solely miss a figure like that.
He is truly irreplaceable. As one of us and as a Motswana, he was one of a kind,” Motlhanka said. Former Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) chairperson, Solly Reikeletseng remembers Bhamjee for his passion for sports development.
“I was genuinely fond of this man for two reasons; first, sport development was a priority in his life, especially cricket. I remember how he took a development programme to Monarch in Francistown and introduced young minds to the sport.
It was a wonderful experience. That year, cricket won the sport code of the year award with the best development programme. Secondly, he supported progress for all sport and was always above issues. The man was a walking passion for sport,” Reikeletseng said. Under Bhamjee, cricket hosted several international competitions.