After being requested to write an article about my experience (pre-Sport Skills for Life Skills) at UWC Cricket Club, it took me a while to get going because I literally had to cast my mind back almost 3 decades……and it made me feel “old” again!
In 1993, after being approached by the executive of the club I joined UWC Cricket Club, as a young 18-year-old from Beaufort West, a small town in the Karoo. These were remarkably interesting times as we were a year into reaching unity amongst the sporting bodies and the country. The first year after unity I played for Rivertonians CC (Kuils River CC – as they are known now) in the WP Premier League competition. With UWC in the 2A, three divisions below the Premier League, my decision was frowned upon by people, but almost 30 years later; and still at Udubs; I can reflect and state that I found my HOME.
Still being involved with the club, through my work at Sport Skills for Life Skills, I can honestly say that I have experienced the evolution of UWC Cricket Club firsthand. The camaraderie amongst the boys were absolutely impressive and training days usually turned into late evening sessions chatting about cricket with a braai outside the clubhouse. Our training facilities were two synthetic nets, with one or two holes, just on a nice “challenging” length for the batters, which the bowlers regularly exploited to the obvious dislike of us batters.
Even though our training facilities were not the greatest, we were blessed with a beautiful Oval and some of the best coaches around, with the likes of Omar Henry, Vincent Barnes, Seraj Gabriels and Mr Pangarkar, to name a few. The “clubhouse”, even though it’s the same building structure as the current one, consisted of 2 changerooms and a little communal area, not big enough for more than 15 people, but which regularly entertained more than double that number, especially after match days on a Saturday evening!
The boys as a group had a deep sense of camaraderie. Not only on the field but off it as well, where at the bottom of the student centre in the area below the stairs, we created our own “clubhouse” where all the boys usually spent time together when they had free periods. Here, many assignments and academic work were completed, in between the cricket conversations obviously. We also regularly had to hold fundraisers to secure funding to be able to attend USSA tournaments and to get some clothing, but this made us appreciate these weeks even more being able to play this beautiful game and to share the experience with a group of guys that you could call your friends. This sense of camaraderie regularly was evident on the field as well where the boys literally played for each other and the badge.
These friendships created at UWC CC are still going strong 30 years later with the majority of us still on a group together sharing stories and still keenly following the current developments at the club.
2,3 IRIE…….” W Are FAMILY”
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