Photo Credit: Cricket South Africa
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has learnt with sadness of the sudden passing of Yusuf ‘Gogs’ Adams on Monday afternoon at the age of 65. He had been diagnosed with Covid-19 the previous week.
He was a man who served cricket throughout his life, starting with his involvement as a club cricketer at Blue Bells and Primrose and going on to represent the Western Province Cricket Board as an opening batsman in seven matches between 1979 and 1989.
Unity came too late for the stylish left-hander, but he became one of the top youth coaches in the unified Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA), playing a pivotal role in the development of many talented youngsters who went on to play first-class cricket and in a number of cases for the Proteas.
He combined his coaching duties with being the grounds curator of the Primrose club at Rosmead.
His two sons shared his love for cricket and both contributed handsomely to the Adams legacy with Zaahier becoming the cricket correspondent for the Cape Times and Cape Argus and Ihtishaam succeeding Evan Flint as grounds curator at Six Gun Grill Newlands in 2019.
“It has been a very sad week for South African cricket as we reflect on the people we have lost who contributed so much to the well-being of the game and in many cases were continuing to do so,” commented CSA Acting Chief Executive Pholetsi Moseki.
“Yusuf Adams served the game in just about every imaginable capacity as player, coach, grounds curator and mentor and there are many cricketers who owe him a great deal for their own successes.
“I extend our deepest sympathy to his wife, Narriman and family, cricketing colleagues and friends.”
President Ashraf Burns paid tribute on behalf of WPCA.
“From a personal point of view, as part of United Cricket Club, I had the privilege and pleasure of playing against the traditional arch-rivals, Primrose, where Adams was a regular fixture in the team and was always difficult to remove as a batsman. On behalf of WPCA, during this difficult period, we send our heartfelt condolences to his family and we keep his wife, Narriman, and all those currently in the cricket fraternity suffering with Covid in our prayers.”
