Smit wins top gong at Northerns awards

Cricketer Kyle Smit was named the Benoni Northerns Sports Club (BNSC) sportsperson of the year at the club’s prizegiving gala on November 8.

The veteran opening batsman beat long-distance runner Kaitlyn Bubb, national baseball star Brandon Bouillon, footballer Sifundo Sibanyoni, over-35s national hockey player and Masters Hockey World Cup silver medallist Kyle Cameron and rugby player Reitze Lewis to this prestigious crown.

“It’s an absolute honour. These awards don’t come around very often and it’s a privilege to have won,” Smit said.

He won the over-40s World Cup in February with the Proteas side after beating Australia by six wickets in the final. He contributed 33 runs in the match in SA’s chase of 156 for victory.

Before that, the former Dolphins player led Eastern Storm veterans to a silver medal at last year’s inter-provincials where his crucial runs steered the team to the final. This resulted in his nomination for the veterans’ cricketer of the year at last year’s CSA awards.

Recently, Smit led the Benoni Northerns Scimitars to third place in the Eastern Storm veterans, scoring 101 in the third-place play-off against Actonville. Overall, he smashed 374 runs with two centuries and two half-tons.

“At this stage of my career, it’s about enjoyment. I’ve had the most fun playing with my teammates. I think that has contributed to my stats, achievements and records. I’ve fallen back in love with the game. Thanks to my teammates and friends. It’s been awesome.”

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After a first-class career that included stints with the Dolphins and Lions, Smit retired to focus on his family and completely lost touch with cricket until the veterans’ league reignited his passion.

“You have clubs like Northerns that gave us a second chance to play the game we love. Once you fall in love with something again, it allows you to achieve it.

“I have to thank the club. Without the effort they put in to get the Vets league going, guys like myself, who thought cricket was gone forever, to now being able to represent our province and country and win a world cup, are things I thought were long gone,” he said.

He advised young opening batsmen to always be prepared and ignore outside pressure to succeed in their position.

“What openers forget is that they practice so much that they forget to let themselves be themselves. They worry a lot about whether they’ll make the team again if they don’t score runs instead of just playing.

“They let outside pressure get to them. If you let outside pressure go, I truly believe everything takes care of itself.”

National U13 4km cross-country champion Siyanda Madlabane was named the young athlete of the year after a successful season where he went their entire provincial season undefeated and concluded it with his win at the nationals in September.

Lourens Smit was named the club person of the year in recognition of his tireless and selfless contribution to the club.

BNSC president Dr Craig Wittstock congratulated all the winners for representing Northerns with distinction.

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