FOR SOME, the memories are of a rugby jersey worn with pride. For others, they are of a teammate’s perfectly timed pass, a coach’s words before a big match or the administrators who made it possible for a team to take the field.

Those memories will come together in Kimberley this weekend when the Kimberley Sports Legends (KSL) hosts its second annual gala dinner, celebrating people who helped shape the city’s sporting heritage.

Themed “Diamonds of the Game”, the event takes place at Elizabeth Conradie School Hall on Saturday, November 7, with rugby, hockey and bowls in the spotlight.

Among those to be recognised are members of the Griqualand West rugby team that reached the 1973 South African Rugby Union (SARU) SA Cup final. For one of the players, Edmund “Eddie” Geduld, the recognition brings back memories of a team whose achievements were shaped by the people behind it as much as those who took to the field.

The gala follows last year’s inaugural gathering, which celebrated cricket and brought together around 100 former cricketers, including members of the Griqualand West team that won the Booley Cup in 1988.

This year, the focus shifts to three other sporting codes, with former players, families, community leaders and supporters expected to gather to honour the people whose contributions helped develop sport in the region.

The list of honourees includes Richard Jacobs, Tobias Ferris, Kenny Gordon, Michael Leon, Faizel Adams, Kingsley Erlank, Peter Salo, Gasson Williams, Emily Werely and Jean Moodaley, among others. Special recognition will also be given to athletes who progressed from school representation to provincial and national competition.

“Sporting excellence takes many forms. Whether a sport is big or small, if someone wore Griqua or South African colours with pride, they inspired our children. They deserve to be honoured,” said KSL spokesperson Eugene Jacobs.

The evening’s guest speaker, Grantham Jansen, also brings considerable experience of the region’s rugby history, having represented Griqualand West, Eastern Province, Cities and Suburban and SARU.

The weekend programme begins on Friday, November 6, with a meet-and-greet at AR Abass Stadium at 4pm, followed by a nostalgic walk to the Kemo Hotel. The gathering is open to former players, sporting enthusiasts, families and members of the public.

The gala dinner on Saturday is a formal, ticketed occasion, with tickets already sold out. The organisers hope the initiative will eventually grow into a sporting archive of photographs, records, memorabilia and personal recollections, while future galas will extend recognition to other codes, including soccer, tennis, swimming, netball, cycling, table tennis and darts.

He recalls T Musson, A R Hermanus, A Adams and R M Burgess as experienced figures whose knowledge of the game helped shape the squad. Musson, himself a former scrumhalf, led the coaching effort, while Hermanus and the selection panel identified the players and their roles.

According to Geduld, these men brought decades of provincial and national rugby experience to the team. Their guidance went beyond tactics and technical ability. They emphasised commitment, cooperation and partnerships, encouraging the players to approach the game with dignity both on and off the field.

Musson and his coaching team set about developing a side with a strong defensive structure, a mobile pack of forwards and an attacking backline. Geduld remembers the emphasis placed on creating space and allowing players to use their individual strengths within the team structure.

Piet van Wyk was entrusted with the captaincy. Geduld describes him as a durable, knowledgeable lock whose leadership qualities were central to the side. Tobias Ferris was another important figure among the forwards, contributing in the line-out and around the loose play.

There are also fond memories of the backline. Chris Ludick’s speed and side-step, Kenneth Gordon’s ability to create space, and the understanding between the two centres helped provide opportunities for the wings, Desmond “Doggy” Barnes and Geduld himself.

The team’s campaign took it to Cape Town for the semi-final against Boland on September 15, 1973. Griqualand West secured a narrow 4–3 victory to earn a place in the final against Western Province, who had beaten Eastern Province 20–0.

The final did not go Griqualand West’s way. Geduld recalls Western Province taking control and eventually winning 34–15. However, he also remembers the contribution of players such as Eric “Bucks” Damons, whose work around the breakdown stood out, while captain van Wyk and Geduld himself scored Griqualand West’s tries. Dennis Jacobs added the conversions and a penalty.

For Geduld, the result does not diminish what the team achieved. His reflections return repeatedly to the people who guided the players and the values they instilled in them.

That is also the thinking behind the Kimberley Sports Legends initiative: to recognise the people whose efforts helped build sporting history, and to ensure their stories are passed on while there is still an opportunity to hear them first-hand.

As the organisers prepare to bring another group of sporting pioneers together, the 1973 team’s story is a reminder that a legacy is built by more than the players whose names appear on a team sheet. It also belongs to the coaches, administrators, advisers and teammates who made the journey possible.