Durban’s Kingsmead Stadium has been more than just a venue for sporting events; for Wilson Ngobese, it has been a second home.
After 49 years of unwavering dedication and craftsmanship, Ngobese, the cherished groundsman is set to retire at the end of this month, leaving behind a rich legacy etched in the annals of South African cricket.
Ngobese, 65, from Ndwedwe, began his journey in the world of cricket in 1975.
It was here that his passion for the sport blossomed and where he witnessed legendary players grace the pitch — icons like Barry Richards and Mike Proctor left an indelible mark that Ngobese cherishes deeply.
He witnessed moments like Gary Kirsten’s 275 against England, Yuvraj Singh’s six sixes off an over and former Hollywoodbets Dolphins’ Morné van Wyk’s T20 hundred against the West Indies.
Ngobese started off as a general labourer, gained an appreciation for cricket and learnt from then curator Jay Pillay before he worked under Phil Russell. In 1999 he was appointed head groundsman.
He said when he first arrived he saw how they planted the grass and prepared the wicket.
"When the grounds looked nice and green then I knew I did something good. I felt a sense of pride when the pitch was perfect for players to enjoy a good game. The worst days were when it rained on match days and you had to run around to cover the grounds.
"It has not been hard or easy doing this job, but this is something I loved doing. Kingsmead stadium has been my home and everyone is like my family. A bonus to doing this job was getting to watch local and international games. I also got to see players like Shaun Pollock rise to become superstars and now a commentator.
"I believe Kingsmead pitch ranks among the best in the country. I got to visit other stadiums and learn about preparing the pitch. One can continue learning until the day they die," said Ngobese.