‘We know the teams will come at each other hard, but one thing we pride ourselves on is our ability to adapt and find solutions when things get tough’ – Ruben Maree, Grey College Cricket captain.
The Diamantveld T20 Cricket Festival is the perfect platform for some of the country’s bigger cricketing schools to showcase their pedigree and talent, and make a push toward confirming their status as top of the pile. One such school is Bloemfontein’s Grey College.
The Grey College cricket captain Ruben Maree told the DFA that he is confident ahead of the tournament.
The captain told of his team’s readiness for the upcoming tournament, highlighting their rigorous preparation.
“As a team, we’ve been focused on training at a high level to ensure that we’re accustomed to the intensity when game day arrives. We believe that understanding different game situations and sharp running between the wickets will be key to our success,” Maree said.
Maree also emphasised the importance of team support, both on and off the field. “Backing your players is crucial. When they feel supported, it becomes easier for them to have confidence in themselves.”
Anticipating strong competition, Maree assured that Grey College is well-prepared for the challenges ahead.
He told the DFA, “We know the teams will come at each other hard, but one thing we pride ourselves on is our ability to adapt and find solutions when things get tough. We’re confident that we can adjust to any conditions we may face.”
The Grey College director of cricket also spoke to the DFA and said he was similarly confident ahead of the tournament.
Adri Swanepoel, expressed confidence in his team’s potential for success this season, particularly as they prepare for this highly competitive tournament.
“We are quite confident that we can perform well with the players we have available this season,” Swanepoel said. “During our winter programme, we focused heavily on improving our options against spin bowling, and we believe this could be a decisive factor in the tournament.”
Swanepoel also highlighted the team’s emphasis on white-ball cricket discipline this year. “We’ve paid more attention to our white-ball discipline, especially focussing on refining our strategy during the middle overs of the bowling innings,” he added.
With T20 cricket being a major focus this season, the team has set a clear objective. “Our goal is to win the tournament, given our strong focus on T20 cricket this year,” Swanepoel told the DFA. “Fortunately, the conditions in Bloemfontein are quite similar to those in Kimberley, and since I grew up in Kimberley, we know what to expect,” he added.
The tournament holds great significance for both the Grey College players and management. “This tournament means a lot to the players and the coaching staff, especially given how competitive it’s expected to be with the high-quality teams involved,” Swanepoel remarked.
“The prospect of playing at the Diamond Oval again is something everyone is really looking forward to,” he concluded.
