CIRCULAR NO: JMT/089/23 Date: September 11, 2023
“Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilayhi Rajeeun”
“To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return”
(Holy Qur’an, Surah Al Baqarah 2:156)
Alhaj Mohamedraza Abdulrasul Virjee
Community Loses a Sports Legend
The Africa Federation Secretariat received with deep sorrow the sad news of the passing away of Alhaj Mohamedraza Abdulrasul Virjee (well known as Raza Virjee), which occurred in Dar-es-Salaam on Thursday 7th September 2023 and was buried the same night.
Born on 17th July 1935 in Dar-es-Salaam, he was the second child to his parents Abdulrasul Gulamhussein Virjee and Shirin bai Suleman Daya Walji who were blessed with four sons and two daughters.
Raza bhai completed his high school education in the year 1953 in Dar es Salaam and joined the British Bank (formerly known as National & Grindlays Bank Ltd.) in the year 1955 and continued to work with the Bank after nationalization by the Government in 1967 which then became National Bank of Commerce (NBC), where he provided his services till 1978.
He then joined Design Partnership Ltd, one of the engineering firms in Dar es Salaam and worked there from 1978 to 2001, after which he joined Tanzania Sign Writers & Engravers Ltd. as an accountant for some time.
Raza bhai was an active volunteer in the community and was elected as a Committee Member of the KSI Jamaat of Dar es Salaam for two terms during the tenure of Alhaj Asgher Bharwani’s Presidentship.
He had a glorious career in sports, having been playing a number of sports which include Cricket, Badminton, Lawn Tennis and Golf.
In the years 1957 to 1959, Raza bhai played badminton and won many community tournaments along with becoming Tanzania’s top finalist badminton player. He dominated in a number of Bank tournaments and won many regional and club tournaments. He also trained a number of community members who took interest in the game.
In the game of Cricket, he scored 1000 runs and 2 centuries in one season and he had an average score of 62 runs in a match. In 1961 he won the title of the highest average score in the Southern Region. His desire to learn more about this sport, led him to take up a TCA Cricket Umpiring Course in 1965, where he was certified to umpire officially which led him to umpire many cricket games against Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Nigeria, India, West Indies, MCC, PIA and other visiting teams.
He was then introduced to the game of Lawn Tennis which he learnt with his tennis partner, late Abdulhussein Damji and soon became a master and a top player of the game in the Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club. He represented Tanzania in 1973 at the 2nd All African Games in Nigeria.
He had to cut short his passion for the game after he became seriously ill in 1974. Following his medical treatment in 1979, he took up golf which he dedicatedly practiced the game until he achieved a handicap of 24 in order to participate in the tournaments. He won over a dozen of achievements in this game in addition the many monthly mugs that were played every month in the Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club (DGC). He has also won the Senior Golf Competition.
Raza bhai was also selected to be the Secretary of the Tanzanian Golf Union (TGU) for 8 years. In 1994, he was elected as Chairman of the Tanzanian Golf Union for a period of two terms.
Raza bhai credited his achievements in the field of sports to the Almighty Allah (SWT), his parents, wife and family members for the support extended to him.
He was nominated the Sportsman of the Year by the Africa Federation in 1980 and awarded Special Sportsman Award during the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the Africa Federation in 1995.
We convey our heartfelt condolences to his wife Batul bai, his daughters, siblings and all family members on this bereavement.
We pray to Allah (SWT) to grant Marhum Raza Bhai maghferat and place his soul amongst the blessed ones in the vicinity of Chaharada Masumeen (AS) and who continuously receive mercy and grace of Allah (SWT).
Sura-Al-Fateha is requested for Alhaj Raza bhai Virjee and all the Marhumeen.
SECRETARIAT