Dawnheights Cricket Club was formed on 21 July 1985 by Mr P.R Maharaj and Dr T. Bisnath together with their nephews Salesh, Shaneel, Suveer and Rajiv Maharaj. Most of the youngsters who joined Dawnheights previously played for New Guelderland Sporting Club where their chances of playing regularly were restricted. Mr Prem Maharaj was encouraged by the enthusiasm displayed by the boys when the team played on their “Island Stadium” a piece of ground at the corner of Waterboom Street and Flamboyant Drive in Dawnside, Stanger.
Thus saw the birth of Dawnheights Cricket Club with Dr T. Bisnath as the first President. “Dawnheights,” comprises the name of two areas, viz Dawnside and Stanger Heights because the players resided mainly in these two areas. The club adopted “blue and white,” to be the colours. The emblem of the club was designed by Sanjay Bisnath and Shaneel Maharaj in 1987. Sanjay, being a B.A. Fine Art student, came up with the sun and rays while Shaneel suggested that 13 rays be on the sun. The sun signified a new team at the spirit of a new era. As the sun brightens the day, our lives were brightened by the formation of Dawnheights. We could now play cricket competitively and regularly. The significance of the 13 rays is that a cricket team consists of 11 players, a 12th man and one scorer/ manager.
The senior team consisted of 18 players initially (Shaneel, Salesh, Suveer Maharaj, Rajiv Maharaj, Dr T. Bisnath,A. Ramith, Vinay,Vikash Misser, Tilman Reddy, J.R Sahadave and Jitesh Gopal, Reshan and Naren Maharaj, Jason Naidoo, M.S. Karodia, A Asmal, Rajen Shanmugum and Bhim Woodradge). The junior team consisted of 12 players, many of whom also played for the senior team. The team so far has retained a “home grown” policy and without regular coaches has done remarkably well as the records speak for themselves.
Dawnheights Cricket Club is the only club in Stanger that honours its players at a lavish Valentines Ball and Awards function. This event has become one of Stanger’s premier events and it is always a sell out. The fact that the club consisted mainly of students is largely due to its founding patrons Mrs S. Maraj, Mr H. Jacobs, Mrs D. Maharaj, Mr A. Bodasingh, Mr Bonny Maraj and Mr Pravin Singh who were ever willing to assist the club. We are also very thankful to all the present patrons and those wonderful people that patronise our club in cash and kind.
The Club’s longest serving officials are brothers Shaneel and Suveer Maharaj. The first official of Dawnheights to serve as an official on a cricket controlling body was Viren Gangaram as Records Clerk of the North Coast Cricket Union. The dream of the officials and players of Dawnheights Cricket Club is to one day have its own grounds and club house. This is a long-term goal, but something that we can strive towards.
As we embark on the next decade and look forward to celebrating our 25th and then Golden Anniversary, let us stop for a moment and thank those pioneers who twenty years ago had the foresight and insight to form a club which has grown into a formidable and household name, well respected and admired, not only in KwaDukuza, but throughout the length and breadth of KwaZulu Natal.
We salute our founders!