08-05-2025
Dannhauser cricket hopes for boost from new sponsors
The push to revive cricket in Dannhauser received another boost last week when representatives of Hollywoodbets (sponsors of the KZN Dolphins team) were persuaded to visit the town while in the Amajuba District.
Cricket in Dannhauser has been dormant for over 10 years, locals say. Still, the formation of a new committee (under the leadership of the Amajuba Sports Confederation) has brought some hope that the sport may finally be lifted out of the doldrums.
The South Park Ground, where cricket was traditionally played in Dannhauser, has fallen into disrepair with overgrown grass, damaged floodlights and vandalised change rooms.
'When we heard Hollywoodbets representatives were on a fact-finding visit to Osizweni last week, we immediately contacted them and asked them to stop over in Dannhauser,' said Farzanah Dookie, who is the chairperson of the local sporting structure in the town.
The delegation from Durban agreed, and Sanelisiwe Kuzwayo (stakeholder relations manager at the KwaZulu-Natal Cricket Union), Shrey Ramnanan (Adriya Sports) and Andy Ngcobo (Hollywood Foundation sponsorship co-ordinator) all met Dookie and others at the ground.
The visitors were reportedly shocked by the site's poor condition and lack of maintenance, which led them to put their plans for the site on hold.
The matter has now been escalated, with efforts underway to collaborate with the local municipality to take over the grounds' maintenance.
'We're actively engaging with the municipality to address these issues and restore the grounds to a standard that supports community sport and recreation,' Dookie said.
Adding to the challenge, unauthorised structures have begun appearing on the grounds, encroaching on key sporting facilities and complicating efforts to restore the area.
Despite these setbacks, sports enthusiasts are determined.
'We won't give up. I'm committed to pushing for meaningful change and revitalising the South Park Grounds for the benefit of everyone who uses them,' Dookie said. Hopes are that the visit by the Hollywoodbets team will lend more impetus to the plan to get cricket back on track in Dannhauser.
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