Cape Town - The Ottoman Cricket Club is a household name for aspiring cricket players, serving the communities of Surrey Estate, Athlone and Bonteheuwel.
And it has set a great example of how sport can build community spirit.
As the club marks it 140th anniversary, chairperson Farid Abrahams spoke about the club’s ambitions and plans to celebrate its rich legacy.
“We set objectives to meet our first priority and that is to play good cricket. This year our first team secured promotion to the Super League (the highest level of club cricket in the city) and our second team secured promotion to the 1st A league,” Abrahams said.
The club’s ambitions on the cricket field met expectations in light of its planned celebrations. There is also an under-15 eight-a-side tournament planned for October this year when 12 schools and clubs will be invited to participate.
Many former international players came through the ranks of Ottoman Cricket Club, including stars like Shameil Jassiem and most famously, Farhaan Behardien.
The club has a strong link to Turkey – with its name derived from the Ottoman Empire. The Turkish government has invested more than R1m in infrastructure upgrades for the club, including practice nets, an electronic scoreboard, CCTV cameras and clubhouse upgrades, among others.
As part of the club’s 140th celebration event, it will have a large-scale religious event – the complete recitation of the Qur’an (Khatam Al Qur’an). This recitation is held every five years.
Former players, members and guests from the community are invited. The event normally has a turnout of 600 to 700 people, including many Turkish guests.
This year’s Khatam Al Qur’an is scheduled for September 18.
The club’s first team has been invited by the Turkish government to play an exhibition match against the Turkish national team in Turkey next month.
Abrahams said despite many hardships throughout its history, the club developed into one that served the sub-economic areas surrounding its home base in Surrey Estate.