To be considered among the top schools in the country was a testament to their hard work, dedication, and love for the sport, according to the Kalahari High School captain.
Kalahari High School recently experienced firstly a ripple, then a hum and soon there was a full-on buzz of excitement, when the school’s cricket team learned that they had been invited to the inaugural top-tier high school T20 cricket tournament in Kimberley.
While the school and the team was at the epicentre of the hum, the DFA newspaper managed to secure an interview with none other than Malan Lubbe, the spirited and skillful captain of Kalahari High School’s cricket team.
The DFA wanted to know what it felt like to be one of the chosen few to partake in the tournament, the first of its kind at an international cricket stadium, the prestigious Kimberley Diamond Oval.
Lubbe told the DFA that, for him and his teammates, the news of their selection was a shock, describing it as nothing short of a miracle. To be considered among the top schools in the country was a testament to their hard work, dedication, and love for the sport, according to the skipper.
“It is a great honour to be a part of this tournament,” he said. “As a school, we feel it is a privilege to be competing in this tournament because it gives us a chance to show the country who we are as a school. The Diamond Oval is a stadium that we are very fond of and share a lot of memories with,” the young captain added.
The DFA wanted to know, as the tournament drew near, how would this young, spirited team balance the competitive aspect of the tournament with the overall experience and camaraderie among the teams?
Malan answered with a determination that reflected the character of his team. “We are a young team with no seniors on the team,” he explained. “There are a lot of big schools at the tournament, and there are certain games that we are going to target and learn from the results of the other games. I feel it is going to be a highly competitive atmosphere, one that we definitely belong in.”
Lubbe was asked what message he and his team would want to send to the fans and supporters who would be watching their matches on international television? His response was a rallying cry that echoed the spirit of his team.
“We as a team play a type of cricket that is exciting to watch with a lot of thrilling moments, and we won’t back down,” he declared, adding, “It would be an honour to wear our school’s badge on television.”
From all indications, it is evident that Kalahari High School’s cricket team is not just a group of talented individuals, but a family bound by their passion for the sport.
With the Kimberley Diamond Oval as their stage and the nation as their audience, they are ready to showcase their skills, their unity, and their indomitable spirit to the world.
The inaugural top-tier high school T20 cricket tournament promises to be a spectacle, and Kalahari High School is determined to be at the heart of it.
