Osman to launch 300-page sports book

Pravda previously played for the national team in 2009 when the tournament was held in Thailand.

He was introduced to golf by his friend and employee, Kershwin Singh, 15 years ago.

“Kershwin was an avid player and asked if I wanted to join him. A lot of people have the misconception that golf is an old man’s game. This is entirely false. After a day on the course, I realised this was the best thing I had ever done,” said Pravda.

Since then, he spent time at the driving range where he mastered his new love and focused on improving his game.

Months later he tried his hand at golfing tournaments.

He received a number of golfing accolades, including from the Mercedes Open, Volvo Golf Championships, BMW Championships and Vodacom’s Origins of Golf.

The one that he holds close to his heart is the Nelson Mandela Inaugural Golf Tournament where he won an award for winning outside the tournament in 2003.

Although the achievements are piling up, Pravda views golf as a business interacting activity where he settles business deals on the greens.

The keen traveller, who has visited some of the world’s biggest golf destinations, including America, Canada, Australia Thailand, Malaysia and Dubai, loves the competitive nature of the game.

“It feels good to take on fellow golfers. It also gives people an opportunity to show their potential on the field.”

His 17-year-old son, Justin, is following in his footsteps and is playing.

Pravda hopes Justin will also experience the sheer pleasure of the game.

Pravda is big on making a difference in the community.

An annual Golf Day is held by Pravda and Knowles Attorneys in November and he donates prizes and cash to several tournaments and organisations throughout the city of Durban.

CLINTON MOODLEY ANTI-APARTHEID sports activist, Ebrahim Osman, has documented his life service to non-racialism in sport and life in general in a 300page book which will be launched on August 8.

The 79-year-old former educationist and sports administrator has captured his memoirs in the book titled, The Life of My Days.

He said it was a 70-year montage of the social, political, cultural, religious and sport aspects of his life.

Osman, who played an influential part in sport in Durban, said he started working on his book in September 2012.

“I began to write the book purely by chance. I remember sitting in my home and detailing my life events on pen and paper. It started with a few aspects which turned into something bigger. “Osman took 10 months to complete the book.

“The book documents the nonracial sports struggle in detail and provides insight into the political interference in education and the shenanigans during the House of Delegates era as well as the schools unrest during the 1980s.”

Osman, who played tennis on a league level for 20 years, said sport played a major part of the book. He was involved in administration of non-racial tennis in Natal for 40 years and was a founding member of The South African Lawn Tennis Union, serving from 1962 to 1979. He was the first president of the KZN Tennis Association where he is currently serving as honorary vice-president of the club. Osman said the memoir was his first and last book.

“When people read my book, I want them to enjoy my experiences and take pleasure in the simple things in life. The current and future generations can use the book to look back at the rich history of sport and education while the older generation can read to reminisce about the past.

“Hundreds of photographs will be included in the book.”

In his spare time, the father of three enjoys spending time with his nine grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.