WPCA pay tribute to Yusuf ‘Gogs’ Adams

June 2021

The Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA) and the national cricket fraternity mourn the passing of former Western Province first-class opening batsman and WPCA youth coach Yusuf “Gogs” Adams.

Adams died suddenly on Monday afternoon after testing positive for Covid-19 just a week prior.

The 65-year-old was “a true cricket man” having learnt the game in the streets of Claremont just a stone throw away from Six Gun Grill Newlands with the Magiet brothers – Rushdie and Saait – before joining up with them in the all-star Primrose CC First XI that dominated WP First Division club cricket under the non-racial South African Cricket Board fold from the early 1970s all the way up to unification in 1991. He also played for Blue Bells CC during this period.

Adams earned his maiden Western Province cap as a left-handed opening batsman in the SACB Howa Bowl in 1979, scoring 55 on debut against a Khaya Majola-led Eastern Province team at the Adcock Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

With unity having come too late in Adams’ playing career, he then ploughed his energies into youth coaching and qualified as a Cricket SA Level 3 coach.

This enabled him to progress all the way through the WPCA youth structures right up to the coach of the WP U-19A Khaya Majola Week team with many a future first-class cricketer and Proteas such as Vernon Philander, Rory Kleinveldt, JP Duminy and Farhaan Behardien passing through his hands.

Adams’ holistic contribution to the game of cricket in the Western Cape region did not end there, however, as he was the grounds curator at his beloved Rosmead – home of Primrose CC – right up until his death.

Adams’ love for the game was transferred to his two sons Zaahier and Ihtishaam, with Zaahier forging a career as the Senior Cricket Writer at the Cape Times/Cape Argus while Ihtishaam served as the Head Groundsman at Six Gun Grill Newlands.

Adams is survived by his dearest wife Narriman that is also still battling Covid-19 in hospital.

“From a personal point of view, as part of United Cricket Club, I had the privilege and pleasure of playing against the traditional archenemy 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 the family and we keep his wife Narriman and all those currently in the cricket fraternity suffering with Covid in our prayers,” said WPCA President Mr Ashraf Burns.