An excellent adminstrator: Lloyd Louw honoured for his service to sport

KIMBERLEY once again celebrated one of its finest sons when Lloyd Louw received special recognition at the recent Cricket Sports Legends Awards.

- DANIE VAN DER LITH [e-mail]

The moment made even more meaningful as the honour was handed to him by Eugene Jacobs, a founding member of Diamond Park Cricket Club and one of the men who walked many steps of Kimberley sports history alongside him.

For decades, Kimberley has produced outstanding sportsmen, women, and administrators whose commitment shaped both community and competition. Names such as Edwin Abrahams, Eric Gossman, JJ Mokwena, HC Rose, Aubrey Everson, AR Abass, Baby Richards, Jim Summers, Ebrahim Jinnah, and Dr. Amin Bhayat stand tall in the city's collective memory.

Today, that lineage shines even brighter as the community paid tribute to another giant in sports service and leadership. Affectionately known as Mr. Fix It, Louw has long been regarded as one of the most reliable and resilient administrators in Kimberley. His journey began at William Pescod High School, where a spark was lit on Thursday and Saturday afternoons as he and his friends watched school games at the then Union Grounds.

Under the guidance of school principal Mr. RM Burgess, the competitive energy of those early rugby battles shaped his understanding of the structures and spirit that keep sport alive.

Louw recalled this formative period with clarity and affection. "With my friends Shutty Hunter and the late Gasant Gool, we would go watch our school games at the Union Grounds. That grew my love for the game and everything that had to be done behind the scenes to make it happen. Our principal, Mr. Burgess, was always there, pushing players to give their best. That is where it all started for me."

A LIFELONG CALLING IS BORN