Dubai: Shyam Bhatia, the Dubai-based cricket enthusiast, who has donated cricket kits to underprivileged children in South Africa, had a distinguished guest last week. Graca Machel Mandela, widow of South African statesman and leader Nelson Mandela, met him as Bhatia presented her with his book ‘Portraits of the Game.’
Speaking to Gulf News after meeting Graca at the Capital Club where she attended ‘Young Arab Leaders Power Lunch’, Bhatia said: “Graca appreciated my support to the children of South Africa for whom I have presented cricket kit.”
Bhatia’s support for South African children dates back to 1993. “In 1993, I sponsored the Air India team from here for a tour of South Africa. The last match was played against the Eastern Province Development-XI at the Dan Queque Stadium at Port Elizabeth in the one of the black townships in the Eastern Province. After the match, we donated all our kits including shoes and clothes to the local boys,” said Bhatia, who recently donated 50 bags of cricket kit to children of South Africa.
“Another set of 50 bags is on the way especially for the black townships. Graca works to improve the lives of children placing orphans in village homes. She has won many international awards for her humanitarian efforts,” Bhatia said.
A big lover of sport, Mandela was responsible for ending South Africa’s isolation from world cricket for apartheid policy — and Graca admittedly shares her husband’s passion for the sport. Graca, who always was part of Mandela’s daily activities, travelling with him to functions, is aware that her husband heard the news of South Africa being permitted to play in the World Cup that emanated from Sharjah in 1991.
It was the ICC meeting, which was held in Sharjah amid a Cricketers Benefit Fund Series tournament that took the important decision.
Mandela often wore white cricketing flannels when invited to greet visiting cricket teams. He followed the game so closely that when in the ‘99 World Cup, South African all-rounder Lance Klusener who performed brilliantly to pull off a close win over Pakistan in the qualifying match, got a congratulatory call from Mandela the next day.
