Kuils River man honoured among sport legends

Kuils River’s Patrick Wessels was among 31 men and women who were honoured as sport legends last week by the provincial Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport.

Mr Wessels achievements include provincial colours in cricket, football, and athletics. He was the chairman of the Kuils River Cricket Club from 1985 until 2020 and the chairman of the Sarepta Sports Board from 1990 until 2012.

In 1990, he was the convenor of the National Athletics Tournament and in 1992 he was the convenor of the national summer codes tournaments.

He has been a member of the Leagues Committee of the Western Province Cricket Association for 30 years until to date, organising fixtures, and dealing with game-related disputes.

He also formed the Northern Cricket Forum, in 1993, to create a platform where senior clubs in the northern areas could share common challenges and build better relationships.

Mr Wessels served as chairman and convenor of soccer, athletics, and cricket of the Bishop Lavis Schools Union from 1993 to 1997.

He also served on the executive board of the Bonteheuwel Schools Sports Union in 1979.

“The positives derived from my involvement in sport, the support and sacrifices I enjoyed from dedicated sports people, convinced me to plough back and reciprocate what others did for me,” he said.

The sport legends honoured at the ceremony, held in Paarl on Wednesday December 7, were nominated by the public.

Boebie Solomons, who was a coach of Premier Soccer League club, Polokwane City; Zelda Hansen, from the Western Province Sports Association for the Physically Disabled; and David Maans, chairman of the Central Karoo District Sport Council, were among those honoured.

Cultural Affairs and Sport MEC Anroux Marais said: “It is very important to me that we acknowledge our sporting legends, not only for their achievements in their different sporting codes but also for the important role that they continue to play as role models for our youth.”