Former soccer great, Ken Dennyschen, right, presented Sunny Singh, the PFA chairperson, a cheque of R1,250.
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THE year was 1977. My family and I had just relocated to a council house in Stonebridge, Phoenix, after being forced to move from our home in Riverside, Durban North, through an edict of the notorious Group Areas Act, to Newlands. From here, in Newlands, we applied for, and were successful, in attaining this home in Stonebridge.
Opposite this home were recreational fields, and I was watching a group of sports enthusiasts at play when an official approached me and asked whether we (my family) would be kind enough to help them with an electricity connection for their 5-a-side tournament.
I was more than willing to do so, and was then asked whether I could help with officiating duties. I, again, obliged and became the MC (programme director) for their function.
The name of the club was Stonebridge United.
Inspection of the Clayfield ground by Dan Manicom, third from left, President of the PFA with his officials and Roy Sukram, right, President of the Phoenix Sports Association, together with Errol Scar, left, Deputy Director of Parks and Gardens, 1977.
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Of course, I was not to know this, but astronaut Neil Armstrong’s prophetic words after he had stepped on the moon on July 29, 1969, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”, rang so true as this small step of providing electricity and officiating at the jamboree, led to the ultimate formation of the Phoenix Football Association (PFA) in 1978, a forerunner to what followed, soccer wise, in this giant township, home to thousands of our brethren.
The first annual general meeting was held at White House Hotel and elected as officials were: Dan Manicom, president; I, as vice president; George (RE) Naidoo; Junior Reddy; Sydney Cooposamy; Jason Perumal; and Bala Govender.
I was privileged to serve with a dedicated band of officials, in various capacities, not least of being the president, but there were many more, some of whom were no longer with us, who sacrificed their family time to serve a bigger cause – that of providing a healthy outlet for the people.
The names are too many to mention, but those of Raj Marie, Naidoo, Reddy, Vinnie Pillay, Baker Tayob, and, of course, Manicom, come to mind.
Phoenix Football Association, from left, J George, B Govender (treasurer), S Coopsamy (record clerk), Les Salton (sponsor) S Singh (vice-president), Dan Manicom (president), Dan Le Roux (sponsor), RE Naidoo (secretary), Dan Padayachee (scrutineer) and J Reddy (assistant secretary)- presenting the Senior K.O Cup.
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When the PFA celebrated its 10th anniversary (1978-1987), it produced a souvenir brochure to coincide with the milestone event. Among the messages were those from soccer stalwarts Rama Reddy, AK Sayed, Ashwin Trikamjee, and Manicom, while Mervyn Hackner, executive director of Furniture Mart, sponsors of the PFA Senior League Competition, also contributed.
While Junior Reddy and Naidoo traced the history of the PFA, the now late Manicom, a former furniture salesman, who also doubled as a freelance sports journalist, summarised the formation and its challenges.
Cyril Smith (merchandising manager) of Furniture Mart, sponsors of the Senior League of the PFA, 1978, with B Govender (treasurer) and Junior Reddy (assistant secretary).
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He wrote: "The prevailing circumstances in this country have given rise to a people’s struggle – a struggle to emancipate the oppressed from the shackles of the myriad laws that make the majority of South Africans second-class citizens in the land of their birth."
No wonder that a large number of individuals with a burning desire to serve the oppressed people, have made a firm commitment in the political, religious, educational, social, and porting scene, to seek liberation from these fetters in spite of the difficulties they face. Sports persons have played, and are playing, no less a meaningful role in the non-racial struggle.
Our sports leaders, to name a few, such as Rama Reddy, Trikamjee, Krish Mackerdhuj, and Hassan Howa (who coined the phrase: “No normal sport in an abnormal society”), keep the torch burning for a free sport society.
Sadly, none of the above named are still around, but their legacy lives on. And so does the legacy of those who gave birth to the PFA . As we celebrate the rise of our Phoenix 50 years on, let us remember the past, but also focus on the future, so that our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, always remember their roots.
To the POST, the Voice and Heart of the Community, thank you for the opportunity to recall the past, to live the present, and march along jointly to the future. And remember, as Nelson Mandela, said: "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”
Sunny Singh
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Sunny Singh, former president of the Phoenix Football Association.