‘There is a bigger picture we, as a union, see, and that’s to retain players within our province and identify talented players within the system’ – Rizwan Engelbrecht, Director of Northern Cape Cricket and Chairman of the Cricket Committee.
THERE is a buzz of excitement in the cricketing world as the inaugural T20 School Cricket Tournament gets set to unfold on the hallowed grounds of the internationally acclaimed Diamond Oval in Kimberley this weekend.
This historic event, organised by Hoërskool Diamantveld in partnership with Northern Cape Cricket, promises to be a game-changer in the world of school-level cricket, providing a platform for young talents to shine on the national stage.
In an exclusive interview, the DFA spoke to the Director of Northern Cape Cricket and Chairman of the Cricket Committee, Rizwan Engelbrecht, and he shed light on the genesis of this remarkable tournament.
Engelbrecht told the DFA, “In December last year, Hoërskool Diamantveld called me in for a meeting as Chairman of the Cricket Committee. The tournament proposal was then presented to me.
“As a union driving to make cricket fashionable and also having programmes and tournaments of this magnitude help our pipeline strengthen in both skill and numbers, it was a no-brainer that Northern Cape Cricket would grab this opportunity with both hands, as it is in the best interest of the youth, the game, and the company.”
Engelbrecht went on to highlight the larger vision behind this tournament, emphasising the importance of retaining talented players within the province while identifying exceptional talents.
He explained this vision saying, “There is a bigger picture we, as a union, see, and that’s to retain players within our province and identify talented players within the system.
“Without programmes or tournaments like these, where we can see our boys go up against the best in the country, how can we gauge if there is a gap in skill level between our boys and the rest of the country?
“Once we have identified them, however, we as Northern Cape Cricket can pull the talented boys into a programme called Young Heats; a programme designed to accelerate them in their respective roles to get them to a first-class player’s level a lot quicker.”
Engelbrecht expressed his optimism about the T20 School Cricket Tournament, which is poised to make history by hosting school cricket at an internationally recognised facility like the Diamond Oval, saying the concept garnered immense anticipation and support from cricket enthusiasts across the country.
“This tournament, definitely the first of its kind to host school cricket at an internationally recognised facility, we see as a success story in the making! We expect the Oval to be well supported as children and families from different corners of the country and different walks of life come together to support the youngsters and the game we all love.”
Now, with the Diamond Oval on the brink of witnessing the rise of future cricket stars, the inaugural T20 School Cricket Tournament promises to be a spectacle that will not only captivate cricket fanatics but also provide young talents with a golden opportunity to showcase their skills and passion for the game.
As the tournament unfolds, it will undoubtedly serve as a testament to the dedication of Northern Cape Cricket to nurturing and fostering the next generation of cricketing heroes.
