When tourists come to Cape Town, they’ve usually been lured here by travel brochures claiming that Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and of course, geographically speaking, some parts of Cape Town are breathtaking. However, when you get underneath its skin and venture into the flat lands (Cape Flats) you’re confronted with a stark paradox to the coastal beauty.
But tonight (Friday, 6 February 2026) I was witness to a different thing of beauty, right in the heart of the flat lands at the Cravenby Cricket Club sports ground, where the club hosted its inaugural Friday Night Lights tourney.
I was invited by Riyaaz Ismail, a passionate community stalwart who wears his heart unashamedly on his sleeve, when it comes to uplifting the community.
Walking into the club grounds I was met by a real sense of community. A fancy barista coffee-stand wafted delicious blends of joe, while a few metres away the boerie braai added to that unspoken vibe that binds us all as South Africans.
Out on the pitch two under 13 batsmen from Cravenby Cricket Club were doing battle, albeit of the friendly sort, against a bowling and fielding onslaught from neighbouring Tygerberg Cricket Club.
Above, mother nature provided a picturesque background of fluffy clouds against a blue sky, while the occasional airplane came in low over the pitch on its way to land at Cape Town International. This against the statuesque backdrop of the impressive Cravenby Mosque, a beacon of the faith that binds this proud community.
I asked club chairperson Adul Karriem Sonday what it was all about. “Tonight’s event is the first of its kind here, and its about fostering that community spirit and celebrating our local talent. As you can see the vibe is very informal with the boeries on the braai, cold drinks and coffee,” he beams with pride.
“But it’s more than that. I really want to reach out to our community neigbours in Uitsig, Ravensmead, Elsies River and anywhere close enough to us to come and join in the next event (check our socials for dates). One of the objectives is to break the cycles of the past that have tried keep us apart in our own communities. It’s time to face the future with a united front. After all we, our communities, are the soul of Cape Town.”
I feel a tingle of pride at Abdul Kariem’s words, and for a moment I get lost listening to his voice as he talks about his passion and inspiration, especially his late uncle Omar Sonday who was an absolute legend for the club and the community.
(L-R) Mohamed Yaseen Vallie, Abdul Karriem Sonday, Ibrahim Rawoot, Sufiyaan Karsten, Azraa Dawood
I ask him how he plans to break the cycle and inspire the new generation. “The old guard have laid the foundations, but we need new thinking, out of the box vision, so to speak. And my plan is to pay the wisdom and insight forward, as I have inherited it from uncle Omar, so I will pass it on to the new generations.”
And what about his peers at neighbouring community sports clubs in places like Bishop Lavis, Belhar, Elisie River Ravensmead etc.
“As we all know from experience, change does not happen overnight, but there are encouraging developments in the leadership of our institutions where men and women with similar visions are beginning to emerge. The biggest challenge at the moment is for all of us to untie the shackles of the labels we were given to keep us apart. The legacy of the past even tried to divide us on issues of faith, which is quite unbelievable actually. So, we want to be completely inclusive and celebrate the past and future heroes of our humble communities. Let’s do it together.”
As a fitting end to my chat, Riyaaz points his long arm across the pitch, directing my attention to the majestic Mosque, "and just there, behind those trees is a Hindu temple, and just up the road is a Christian Church, we’ve done a few joint events to serve the community, and will continue to do so".
Stars of the Future: Tristan Woolgar and Taufiq Behardien batting for Cravenby Cricket Club
Cravenby Cricket club boasts many heroes past and present who seeded their talent at the club. As I’ve run out of space here, I invite you to look up the names of these inspirational icons, to name but a few: Allahudien Paleker, Mohamed Yaseen Vallie, Shaheen Khan, Beuran Hendricks and lady cricketer Shabnim Ismail.
Contact Abdul Karriem Sonday 084 292 9863 for more information on Cravenby Cricket Club, Junior Cricket and Friday Night Lights. #BYOH
