The local cricket fraternity paid respect to a stalwart of junior cricket in the region, Andrew Peter Grobler, at a special memorial service held at Sahara Park Willowmoore in Benoni, on July 8.
The Benoni-born Grobler, who always proudly donned an Easterns cap, died on Monday, July 3, at the age of 64.
Grobler lived in Dalpark for 33 years until his death.
He is widely respected in cricket circles because of his passionate efforts to unearth and develop young cricketers from all sectors of the community within the Eastern Cricket Union, particularly those from previously disadvantaged backgrounds.
He is one of the people who played a key role in the growth and progress of the now Protea player, Mangaliso Mosehle.
According to Mark Kingham, chairman of the Eastern Junior Club Cricket Association (EJCCA), Grobler was formally the longest standing member of the EJCCA with “unbroken executive committee service to all its affiliates for 22 years.”
He was the EJCCA’s club league cricket co-ordinator for 20 of those years and served as the chairman of the association for two-and-a-half years.
Grobler also served on several subcommittees to the EJCCA from time to time.
“It is proposed that Andrew be nominated for a Lifetime Honorary Membership to the EJCCA, in due course, in honour of his unselfish service,” added Kingham.
“Andrew’s agenda was always about cricket in the truest sense; he did not care about a title, but strove to ensure that the game was played in the true spirit.
“Although he appeared tough on the outside, he had a compassionate heart on the inside.
“Where do you find a person who would drive the length and breadth of this union just to ensure a player either got to cricket practice or returned safely home after a match?
“His attitude was: ‘Let’s just get the child onto the cricket field and the rest will take care of itself’.”
He ran his own business, APG Security, for the past 20 years.
Grobler is survived by his wife Linda, daughter Kim, son Mark, daughter-in-law Jenna and grandson Tyler.
