For a community whose roots stretch back centuries to a small coastal town in Tamil Nadu, a friendly cricket tournament in Singapore became much more than a sporting contest.
It was an opportunity to reconnect with shared heritage, renew friendships and strengthen bonds among families whose ancestors had migrated from Porto Novo, now known as Parangipettai in Cuddalore district.
The Porto Novo Association (Singapore) organised its first official community gathering on Oct 11, bringing together around 60 players, guests and supporters at an open field in Kallang, near the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) Building.
The event featured two teams – PNO Lions, captained by Hameed Sahib, and PNO Tigers, led by Sultan Sikandar – competing in two closely contested 10-over matches.
The Lions eventually emerged victorious, but the emphasis throughout the day was on participation rather than winning.
Around 40 players took part on a rotation basis, ensuring that everyone had an opportunity to play.
Zainulabideen, Shahul Hameed, Abdur Razzak and Imthiyas were among those who delivered notable performances.
For the association, officially registered with Singapore’s Registry of Societies about a year ago, the tournament marked an important milestone.
Its president, Mr Mustafa Kamal, said cricket was a natural choice for the inaugural gathering because many members were enthusiastic followers of the sport.
Some had also played competitively during their school and college years.
The tournament provided a relaxed setting for members and their families to interact, particularly those who had not met for years or were unfamiliar with the wider Porto Novo community.
The event’s Guest of Honour was former Singapore national cricketer Mohan Kumar, a member of the Ceylon Sports Club Cricket Committee.
A fast bowler and middle-order batsman, Mr Mohan represented Singapore from 2005 to 2008.
He shared experiences from his international playing days, commended the participants and pledged to offer support and guidance wherever possible.
Also attending were representatives of the Pasar Geylang Serai Merchants Association – chairman Osman Sudin, secretary Rahmat Sawie and assistant treasurer Abdul Razak Md Rafieek.
Their presence added to the community spirit of the occasion.
Porto Novo, or Parangipettai, is a historic coastal town on Tamil Nadu’s eastern seaboard, known for its maritime trading connections.
For centuries, it maintained commercial links with Arab merchants, followed by Portuguese, Dutch and British traders.
These connections encouraged migration to the Malay Peninsula from as early as the 16th century.
Today, approximately 350 families with ancestral roots in Porto Novo live in Singapore.
Among prominent members of the community is Mr S.M. Abdul Jaleel, CEO of Mini Environment Service.
Although many families have maintained close relationships over generations, others have gradually lost contact with their ancestral community.
Some descendants no longer speak Tamil but remain aware that their forefathers came from Parangipettai.
Reconnecting these families is one of the association’s principal objectives.
Following its registration, the association established a team to compile a database of Porto Novo families residing in Singapore.
Through this initiative, it has already reached approximately 80 per cent of the estimated 350 families.
Efforts are continuing to identify and connect with the remaining households.
The association also hopes to encourage younger generations to understand their family histories, maintain cultural traditions and develop friendships within the community.
Its broader mission is to preserve shared heritage while contributing to Singapore’s multicultural harmony.
The cricket tournament demonstrated how a familiar sport can provide common ground across generations and backgrounds.
Organisers thanked the players, volunteers, guests and supporters for making the inaugural gathering a success.
