Remembering Tensingh Seethal, a sportsman extraordinaire
Tensingh Seethal, one of the most talented and gifted sportspersons the city and the province has produced, died peacefully on April 30, after a long illness.
Seethal was like a superstar athlete, who soared through the air with the grace of a majestic eagle. We watched, and saluted in awe, as he showcased his exceptional skills and determination on the sports field.
On May 29, 1953, New Zealander, Edmund Hillary (aged 33 years), and the Nepalese, Tensing Norgay (aged 38 years), became the first persons to ascend Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain peak at 8,850 metres, in Nepal. Four days earlier, on May 25, 1953, a son was born to a mother of Nepalese descent, Lena Seethal, at the Grey’s Hospital. His parents chose to name their son, ‘Tensingh’, after the legendary Tensing Norgay.
Little did they know that their son will ascend the summit of school-boy cricket in South Africa – at 16 winning, the best cricketer award at the non-racial South African Senior Schools Sports Association (SASSSA) tournament in 1969. Moreover, he secured selection to the SASSSA’S national cricket team at the interprovincial tournament, held in Worcester, in the Western Cape. A memorable feature of that tournament was that the cricketing great, Basil D’oliveira, adjudicated the award for the best cricketer at the tournament, and presented the prize (a cricket bat) to Seethal.
At Woodlands High School in Northdale, Seethal was selected for the Natal
High School Cricket team in 1969, 1970 and 1971 – with the Natal Schools tournament held at the Springfield Grounds in Durban. Blessed with prodigious cricketing talent, Seethal was selected regularly for the Natal under-19 and under-23 teams. He also represented, on many occasions, the Maritzburg District Cricket Union (MDCU) in the late 1960s and 1970s – playing alongside his older brothers Cecil, and the late Vivian and Aubrey.
At the club level, Seethal played for both Higher Grade School and Royals Cricket Clubs. He was a brilliant left-handed and hard-hitting batsman, and many cricketers and spectators were fortunate to see his glorious and effortless cover drives
– so reminiscent of the outstanding West Indian cricketer, Brain Lara. In an inter-district match for MDCU against the Durban Cricket Union’s team at the Tills Crescent, in Overport, Durban, Seethal hit the legendary Baboo Ebrahim, for five successive sixes in one over. Ebrahim, who refused to bowl again, was later selected for the South African Invitation side against the pecuniary-driven Mike Gatting’s side as part of the rebel cricket tours to apartheid South Africa.
Michael Nair, chairperson of Higher-grade Sporting Club, who also played in the Midlands Schools Cricket team in 1971, recalled Seethal scoring an unbeaten 129 against a very powerful Asherville team. “Tensingh demonstrated unwavering determination and an unrelenting spirit on the cricket field, which propelled himself to unparalleled heights”, said Nair.
On matriculating, Seethal attended Fordsburg College of Education in Johannesburg. In 1972, he played for Swaraj in Lenasia, Johannesburg. Swaraj was affiliated to the then Transvaal semi-professional soccer league, and Seethal played in the left-wing position for the team. In Pietermaritzburg, Seethal played football for Higher Grade Schools Football Club (1968 – 1971; 1973 – 1975).
At club, school, and district levels, Seethal, who was a teacher in Pietermaritzburg for 19 years retiring at in January 2017), contributed significantly to sports development and administration. He was coach, manager and selector for MDCU (1968 – 1980); manager and chairperson of Higher-grade Schools Football and Cricket Clubs (1968 – 1975); coach and manager of the under-15 and over-15 cricket football teams at the Esther Payne Smith, and Woodlands Secondary Schools in Northdale. At Woodlands Secondary School, he was instrumental in the construction of two cricket nets.
On January 19, 2013, the Sports Veterans’ Association (SVA) bestowed upon Seethal its Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedicated and committed contribution to the welfare of sport in the Pietermaritzburg and Northern Kwazulu-natal regions. Terence Hoskins, president of the SVA, said Seethal’s career as a world-class cricketer was outstanding, his leadership prowess was noteworthy and his role as a cricket administrator and coach, remarkable.
Seethal has left behind a rich and immortal legacy of the wonderful values he cherished, and so bravely upheld. His death has created a huge void across multiple dimensions, and in the lives of many in the sporting fraternity throughout Pietermaritzburg.
He was married to Shamla, and they have two children, Kassandra and Jeremy. Jeremy has followed in his Father’s footsteps and is now Head of Global Scouting in football for the Right to Dream Group (RDG), and is currently based in Denmark.
Seethal’s funeral service took place on May 5, at the Holy Angels Church in Khan Road, Raisethorpe, Pietermaritzburg.