Trophies galore for Dimes
TIMES have changed but the character of one of Durban’s oldest football clubs, Dimes United, has not.
The 50-year-old club was formed by Daddy Kuppen and was first called Magazine Lads.
That team comprised players from the Magazine Barracks and Westcliff in Chatsworth.
In 1966, Magazine Lads was renamed Dimes, an acronym for the Durban Indian Municipal Employees Society.
The founding members included Henry Pillay, Charlie Murugan, Jerry Chetty, Dan Maduray, Poobal Veerasamy, Henry Pythee. Vadi Naicker, Sunrise Bala and Jack Pillay joined 20 years ago.
In its inaugural year in the Chatsworth Football Association, it won the league and the Pine Mahomed’s Cup.
The following year it was the first team to win the Clover Cup – and won the league again.
Logan Moodley, the chairman, said: “From 1968 to 1974, Dimes played in games organised by the Southern Natal Soccer Board.
“Some of the players who represented Southern Natal were Nelson ‘Chiefy’ Subban, Chicken Veerasamy, Logan Maduray, Cyril Deva, Shan Arumugam and Hitler Kuppasamy, who was the vicecaptain of the South African amateur squad.”
The team rejoined Chatsworth FA in 1975 and won the Premier League.
“In 1990, Dimes played in Division Two of the S A Soccer Federation.
“After the Federation and the National Soccer League merged, Dimes also played in Division Three of the NPSL.
“They were the first team from Chatsworth to achieve this. This feat is regarded as a pinnacle in the rich history of Dimes,” said Moodley.
After this, Dimes played in the Southern Natal league and won several leagues and cups.
Another memorable game was against professional outfit Maritzburg United, in the quarter-finals of the Osmans Cup at the Northdale Stadium in Pietermaritzburg.
“Dimes and their supporters were on cloud nine when a cracking header from Colin ‘Blues’ Pillay soared past Maritzburg’s goalkeeper Farouk Abrahams to give Dimes the lead. That was short-lived, however, as Maritzburg levelled and went on to win 2-1.”
In 2007, Dimes established its first junior structure for players aged 9 to 17. It was spearheaded by the chairman at the time, Spinks Kuppen.
The junior and senior structures enjoyed many successes from 2007 and onwards.
Their trophy cabinet contains league and cup titles, the veterans league, DPG Logistics KO Cup and the 2014 Easter Tournament.
Said Moodley: “The club salutes the many players, coaches and administrators who kept Dimes ticking over the years. Those who had stints as professional players included Eddie Myles, Nelson Subban and Chicken Veerasamy.
“Coaches who shaped Dimes’s destiny included Keith America, Ravi Govender and Vasi Naidoo.
“Under the leadership of Louis Moodley (chairman and former player), the executive committee of Jason Govindasamy, Mike Ramnarain, Lendel Pillay, Ponch Chetty, Lenny Moodley, Andrew Naicker, Isreal George, Clinton Sagadhaven and other dedicated officials plan to build on the legacy which Dimes has established.”
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