A tribute to Border Cricketer, Norman Minnaar by Peter Martin

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Player:

NP Minnaar

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DateLine: 19th March 2015

 

A massive heart attack on Sunday, March 15th, 2015, at St Andrew's College, Grahamstown claimed the life of Norman Minnaar, the former Border opening batsman and former SA Breweries Sponsorship manager.

 

Born on April 23rd, 1957, he was 57 years old at the time of his death. Educated at Selborne College in East London, Minnaar was involved in sport virtually throughout his life.

 

In 1975 he was the Selborne College first XV captain where he was an outstanding eighthman, and first cricket team captain, a prefect, and at the end of that year he represented Border Schools at the annual Nuffield Week (now Khaya Majola Week) as an opening batsman.

 

He taught briefly at Selborne Primary before taking up a post with SA Breweries in East London, later being promoted to their Johannesburg office. As Sponsorship Manager, he had many dealings with top sports administrators, including Cricket SA. He later opened his own sports promotion business, M Sports Marketing and played golf with a seven handicap.

 

"I played for Queen's College against Norman," said former Border allrounder Greg Hayes, who professed shock at hearing of his death.

 

"We then played for Border Schools together and then Bohemians Club as well as a few games together for Border."

 

"Norman was a popular guy, made a lot of friends, and had a wonderful personality. He will be sorely missed among the cricket fraternity,” Hayes added.

 

The record books show that Minnaar scored 771 runs in 22 first-class matches between 1982 and 1987 for Border (average 19.76) with two half-centuries and a highest score of 82, while in 15 limited-overs games he scored 247 runs (16.46). He also took two wickets in first-class games for 64 runs as a part-time bowler.

 

Minnaar was in Grahamstown to visit his son Matthew at St Andrew’s College to celebrate his wife, Susan's birthday with him. Minnaar complained of chest pains, thinking it was merely heartburn and was taken to the school sickroom where he suffered the heart attack.

 

Minnaar moved from East London to Knysna in November 2013. He leaves his wife, Matthew and another son, Andrew.

 

(Article: Copyright © 2015 Peter Martin)