136-year-old Ottomans Cricket Club to honour veterans of the game
With links to great Ottoman Empire and strong roots in the community, team still not out after batting for over a century
ONE of the city’s oldest cricket clubs, Ottoman Cricket Club, will use its annual awards event this weekend to honour and pay tribute to a number of former cricketers 75 years and older who made a contribution to the game.
Founded in 1882 by Abdullah Agmat in the Bo-Kaap, the club’s name is derived from the great Ottoman Empire.
Agmat was a student of the renowned Turkish scholar, Abubakr Effendi, who was sent by the Ottoman Empire to guide and instruct the Muslims in the Cape on matters pertaining to shariah (Islamic Law). The great scholar died in 1880, but not before starting the Cape Town Ottoman Muslim School.
Ottoman Cricket club was one of 12 in the Bo-Kaap that played in the “coloured” league and despite tough playing conditions, produced talented players.
The much-hated apartheid regime ensured these players were denied a fair opportunity to excel at the game of cricket. During the golden era, 1929 – 1947, Ottoman won the championship for eight successive seasons and dominated cricket in the Western Province.
By this time there were several other “coloured” clubs established and from these clubs a provincial side was chosen.
It came as no surprise Ottoman dominated the provincial side.
For roughly six decades, during the club’s early years, its meetings were held at 23 Pentz Street and later 82 Dorp Street in Bo-Kaap. Due to apartheid and forced removals, many Ottoman members were forcibly removed and the club had to relocate from its home ground in Bo-Kaap to its current premises in Surrey Estate on the Cape Flats.
A marked decline in membership also affected other Bo-Kaap clubs. After several meetings the clubs decided to merge and formed what is today known as United Cricket Club. But the Ottoman executive decided against being part of the merger – a decision that did not go down well with the other clubs, who predicted Ottoman would fold within three years. Needless to say they were proven wrong. Because Ottoman was the smaller club, the Green Point Track field was awarded to United.
In 1976, Ottoman relocated to the Surrey Estate facility, where it still plays its home matches. But for about 26 years the players used their cars as dressing rooms and had to cart the equipment to and fro because there was no proper facilities at the grounds. Members brought their own gardening tools to prepare the outfield.
For years the club survived on the goodwill of its members and their families. Serving and entertaining its guests was always part of the Ottoman culture and the treats were voluntarily prepared by the families of the players. It is from this practice that the Ottoman Cricket Club established itself more than just a club – it became one big family.
The challenges Ottoman Cricket Club faced were reminiscent of the battles faced by Hassan Howa, one of the most influential activists in the cricketing and general sporting fraternity. Howa had relentlessly fought for multiracial inclusion and representation in all sports.
Twenty-six years after moving to Surrey Estate and after a lot of determination and hard work by some members who had a long-standing history with the club, a clubhouse was built. Appropriately, it was named the Hassan Howa Pavilion to honour his memory.
Over the years Ottoman produced many provincial players at various levels – some went on to represent South Africa. They included Wasfee Samsodien (SA U19) and Farhaan Behardien – currently with the Proteas.
Since its establishment, Ottoman has not had any major form of sponsorship.
It is only for the past three years that a family trust recognised the rich history of the club and the struggles it endured over the past 130-odd years and pledged to make a contribution to the club’s running costs.
Members’ subscription fees and some fund-raising initiatives are the only sources of income that see the club through.
Because it serves mostly sub-economic areas, the collection rate of subscription fees is low. Despite this, Ottoman never turned away a player and instead provided opportunities for all its players.
During the 2015/16 season, the club received a generous donation from the Turkish Development and Co-ordination Agency (Tika) which, among other things, allowed it to construct additional concrete practice nets and practice turf nets.
Notable achievements that the club has reached in its 133-year history include:
Achievement Year Grand Challenge Winners 1914.
Daniels League Cup Winners 1939/40.
League Grand Challenge Knockout Winners 1942/3.
League and Grand Challenge Winners 1945/6.
League and Grand Challenge Winners 1954/5.
Big Eight Competition Winners 1976.
WPCA Inaugural Pro20 Winners 2005.
WPCA Club of the Year Runner-Up 2015/16.
WPCA Most Sporting Club 2015/16. Highlights of the past decade included participating in the biennial International Malay Cricket Trophy Tournament (IMCT) locally and abroad. The IMCT is a tournament featuring Malaysians, South Africans and Sri Lankans.
The club also intends establishing links with cricket structures in Turkey, India and Jeddah to establish exchange programs and tournaments.
Ottoman Cricket Club membership consists of predominantly Muslims from across the city. It prides itself with its origin and existence.
Ottoman Cricket Club has a formal programme which includes religious activities during Ramadaan. Every five years a Ghatam al Qur’an (complete recital of the Qur’an) is held – an event attracting up to 600 people.
Not too long ago the Turkish government came across the Ottoman Cricket Club through an article in the Turkish Airlines in-flight magazine. They did some investigating around club’s name.
This resulted in the club being funded with nets, upgraded security at the clubhouse and the installation of an enclosed electronic scoreboard.
A second capital injection was to upgrade the ailing clubhouse.
The president of Tika attended Ottoman’s 135th anniversary celebrations and pledged its continuous support for the club. During the celebrations the club was invited to play a friendly match in Turkey – all expenses covered by Tika.
Information supplied by Ottoman Cricket Club.