Former racing driver now at the helm of WP Veterans Cricket Association

As a former racing driver Fuzlin Levy-Hassen knows all about rapid decision-making, responding effectively to changing conditions, no wonder she has moved swiftly to attract renewed interest in the Western Province Veterans Cricket Association (WPVCA) since taking over as chairperson.

In fact, the 55-year-old chartered accountant and resident of Athlone has since her election to the post in August this year, managed to stabilise the workings of the association, placing it on a path of rebuilding and growth, which could see more heroes of yesteryear emerging from the cobwebs of inactivity.

Levy-Hassen, who runs her own accounting firm, is often called upon to head turnaround strategies in major and small to medium enterprises and it would seem, the association is now in capable and safe hands as she and her new executive plot the way forward.

“So far, it’s been going very well. Lots of challenges but we are making progress. There are lots of initiatives that we are planning but we will reveal it as the season goes along. I’m a hands-on person and want to attend as many of the matches as possible and to see the challenges that players experience at certain venues.

“I’m indeed honoured to be chairperson of the WPVCA, the biggest in the country. We presently have 24 teams in our league with clubs on the waiting list to join. I am also the first female chairperson of the veteran's league in the country and probably one of the few female chairpersons in cricket,” she said.

But before her elevation to the chairperson’s position she mentored individuals at Cricket South Africa, provincial, club and school level and once served on the same school governing body alongside Jono Leaf-Wright, CEO of Lions Cricket, during her 17-year long stay in Gauteng.

However, the mother of three entered the world of sport as a budding motor racing driver in a Formula Ford class, as a member of her father Armien Levy ’s racing team at Killarney in Cape Town in 1989.

Her father was a trailblazer in motor racing circles during a period when the sport was not open to blacks and together with a group of friends they started the Cape Daredevils Motor Racing Club.

They fought their way in and only gained entry into the sport through the legendary Jack Holloway of the Cape Helldrivers who helped them organise the necessary permits and started racing in December of 1969. Two of his sons, Anwar and Ebrahim, followed him into motorsport, as did Fuzlin.

“Dad is 77 years old and still manages the Armien Levy Motorsport racing team along with my brothers Anwar and Ebrahim and my nephew Reza,” she said.

While growing up in a motor racing sports crazy family, Fuzlin said it was a matter of natural progression that she would get behind the wheel.

“Racing is in our blood. In 1989 my dad was preparing his racing car, a Formula Ford for a national event, and he asked me to take the car out for a test drive. I took up the challenge. It was amazing and that is how I started. I went to race for three years but had to stop when the study load became too much. My goal was set to become a chartered accountant and studying at the University of Cape Town became too hectic, but I love the sport.

“I was one of only a few female racing drivers in the country and I must just add the fans were amazing and had so many people supportive and proud of me,” she said.

“When I met my husband Raafick Hassen, a cricketer, my dad told me you know he is a sportsman, so support him and do things together. I was one of a few wives who were at every game. My daughters grew up on the cricket field and we are passionate about cricket,” she added.