Farouk Abrahams, the football legend, is well loved – and this was once again reaffirmed and for all to see – and feel – at his Gala Benefit Dinner held at the Islamia Hall in Lansdowne on Saturday evening.
Abrahams, a former pro player, former Bafana Bafana goalkeeping coach and former sportswriter for the Cape Times, was diagnosed with cancer in 2023 – and the event was aimed to raise funds towards his treatment, which is a costly affair
It was indeed an emotional roller coaster of an evening, which was the initiative of Shaheed Adonis, Clive Daries, Shaheen Jacobs, Taariq Paulsen from the Western Cape Legends Foundation, and generously supported by Survé Philanthropie.
Many football legends, such as Duncan Crowie, Adeeb Abrahams, the Banyana Banyana coach, Desiree Ellis, former Springbok coach Pieter de Villiers as well as the former Proteas bowling coach Vincent Barnes, not forgetting the various community leaders, supported this event.
The evening also conjured up some powerful testimonies from Abraham’s immediate family members, close friends, as well as former teammates and adversaries. Not to mention the real-life confessions, entertainment from local artists like Madeegha Anders and her sister Nuraan Boltman, and humour found only on our local shores with the likes of Yusuf Daniels..
It was a grand affair, which most certainly will have some lasting memories. But it was also an evening where former players, pro and amateur, could once again catch up and reminisce about their heyday and years gone by, while others came out to show their solidarity to Abrahams – after all, the night was put together to raise funds for his fight against cancer!
The former Bafana Bafana team doctor and prominent businessman, Dr Iqbal Surve, stated in his keynote address that it was an “incredible honour” to say a few words as he had known Abrahams for a very long time.
“You’re a very special person, and I’ve known you for a very, very long time,” Surve conveyed. “I think how special you are… has been said by so many people before me. But more importantly, if I look around the room, I see people smiling… They are happy to be here. You brought not just the legends together. And we’re not here to be sad, but we’re here to celebrate you,” Surve added.
Survé emphasized that Abrahams belonged to a golden generation of talented footballers whose careers were shaped by apartheid and whose stories were not always properly recorded.
“Many were robbed of the opportunity to play internationally because of apartheid,” he said. “What is missing is that we don’t tell our stories. We don’t write and publish our stories,” he further added.
According to Survé, football has always been a “great equaliser”, where a player’s background mattered less than their ability once they stepped onto the field.
Survé also praised Abrahams for continuing to give back to the next generation through his Goalkeeping Academy (FAGA) and for remaining a role model to young players despite his battle against cancer.
“We can’t allow icons like you to be forgotten,” Survé concluded.
The former Bafana Bafana player and longtime rival of Abrahams, Duncan Crowie, began his speech with the following: “Firstly, I would like to thank Farouk and the organisers of this fantastic event for inviting me to say something here tonight – I feel honoured to be part of this prestigious event.
“I was aggressively warned “moet nie lank praat nie (Don’t talk for long). Is nie oor jou nie! (It’s not about you). Is oor Farouk en die mense is honger (It’s about Farouk and the people are hungry). And it’s in line with my speech. They say a speech must be like a mini skirt… short, but it covers the topic – I still don’t know what that means,” Crowie stated, which had the audience in stitches.
Crowie further elaborated: “But he wasn’t just a good leader; he was a winner. He is a good motivator. That is what Farouk was.”
The owner of Mike’s Sports, Michael Augoustides, who worked with Abrahams at one stage during his career, said he was fortunate when Abrahams joined him as both manager and player.
“He was a great asset and well respected in the football fraternity,” Augoustides explained. “Under his guidance, we did very well. We got promoted and managed to beat our arch rivals at the time,” he stated.
Augoustides also acknowledged that some of Abraham’s football lessons had stayed with him over the years.
“That is to keep things simple and let the ball do the work,” Augoustides concluded.
FRIENDS FOR LIFE: (From L-R) The former Springbok coach Pieter de Villiers, Farouk Abrhams and Cape football legend Duncan Crowie.
PHOTOS SUPPLIED BY SHARIEF JAFFER
