Soccer was Lenasia’s heartbeat

THE enduring scars of apartheid are deeply imprinted in the memories of black South Africans. The oppressive apartheid regime underestimated the strong unity among black communities and failed to recognise their immense passion for sports — a spirit that thrived even under the harsh restrictions of the Group Areas Act.

- BASHIR BAGUS.

In 1955, with the establishment of Lenasia, the Indian community brought soccer with them as a cornerstone of their new lives.

By January 1956, the first group of 50 families had transformed a small plot of land where the present Lenasia Civic Centre stands, into two soccer fields, marking the birth of soccer in Lenasia and laying the foundations for the Lenasia Football Association (LFA).

On July 24, 1957, a historic meeting was held at the “hut” in the military barracks that was occupied by Dalla Magoo, with the purpose of establishing a football body in Lenasia. Representatives of three soccer clubs, namely, Lenz United, Century and Orientals, were in attendance.

Jimmy Padayachee was elected protem chairman, and Pali Naidoo as secretary.

A month later, on August 25, 1957, the Western Districts Indian Football Association (Wdifa) was established in Lenasia with WJ Warnasuriya as president; WA Moonsamy, secretary; G Padayachee, treasurer; and M Moonsamy, record clerk.

The five vice-presidents were J Padayachee, F Rungan, A Poonen, R Poonen and KR Padayachee.

From its inception, the association adopted the principle of non-racialism in sport. On September 11, 1960, the first football fixtures were played at the Lenasia Sports Grounds, where the present stadium stands.

The first soccer club in Lenasia was the Century FC, which was led by Dalla Magoo, Gopal Nagia and GT Ramsamy.

Pali Naidoo and Jimmy Padayachee were elected as the secretary and chairman respectively. The soccer legend, Rathie Poonen, served as its patron, and “Agie” Poonen as its first coach.

Later, clubs from the Witwatersrand Indian Football Association became the cornerstone of the new association, with famous teams such as Daffodils, Moonlighters, Rainbow Aces, Lenz United, Greyville City and Swaraj joining its ranks.