She believed she could, so she did

Born and bred Benonian, Joline Smit (30), is the current vice chairperson of the Benoni Northerns Women’s Cricket team not only because she enjoys playing the sport, but also because cricket is her preferred sport and love.

Although throughout her school career, Smit dabbled in many sports.

“I started practicing cricket with the boy’s at Laerskool Northmead at the age eight,” she said.

“Mr. Paul Fourie, a teacher/coach at the school, invited myself and my twin sister to do training when he saw we showed interest, had very good ball sense and skill.

“I also took part in athletics playing shot put as well as dabbled in discus and javelin, on the high school inter schools team.”

She also participated in hockey, becoming the first goalie for the Laerskool Northmead hockey team when they introduced the sport at the school when she was 12.

“I then went to the Easterns final trials in my first year and was invited to play for the Benoni Northerns (BN) club side,” she explained.

She was then selected for Hoërskool Brandwag’s first team hockey and started playing hockey again this year for the BN Chirpettes team.

But cricket is her first love.

“I love that it is a team sport and enjoy being surrounded by team members who become family,” she said.

“I love competitive sport and getting myself out of my comfort zone. It is a sport that most certainly has a lot of different technical aspects which I enjoy.”

After she finished school, club cricket for women had not been introduced yet.

“In 2017 my twin invited me to practice with the Benoni Northerns (BN) Women’s team,” she said.

“I was then asked to manage the BN Samurai team at the Battle of the Rose’s. We lost the final but that most certainly opened doors for me.”

This was about the time when Smit was elected club captain and 2019 vice chair for women’s cricket.

“We won our league and remain unbeaten twice in a row,” she said excitedly.

“We played in the Battle of the Rose’s 2019 where we won the tournament. Thereafter I was elected to be part of the Easterns Women’s cricket association and only took my first break from cricket when Covid hit.

In the Northerns last AMG, Smit was re-elected as vice chair for women’s cricket which is a proud moment for her, but what if I told you she also plays rugby?

“I started to show interest in rugby in Primary School, but I was not allowed to play or practice alongside the boys,” she said.

“Rugby officially began for me when I played for the BN Women’s team in 2019.

“I played one game as fly half and enjoyed it very much, although I realised I don’t like the contact part of rugby and felt that I would rather play tag rugby for fitness and skill development.

“It’s a sport I fell in love with when I was younger. I showed potential as a youngster but never had the opportunity to advance my skill level. I do wish that I had more club opportunities when I was younger as I would have loved to play provincially.”

This Benoni AH resident feels that the opportunities for women in sport are not yet in place when it comes to growth.

“Unfortunately there is a stigma when it comes to certain sports women show interest in,” she began.

“Club’s all around need to step up and show women support, give them the much needed foundation to further a career in whichever sport they choose.

“I’m very fortunate at BN as I have a committee that fully supports women’s cricket. If all the subsections can be so supportive it can only grow from strength to strength.”

Smit feels that sponsors are most definitely something that needs to become a priority in women’s sport.

“We were fortunate enough to have three sponsors for our cricketing season,” she said.

“Blindski Parties, TME Services and FOKKOL Merchandise, thank you for supporting women’s sport.

“If the companies in our communities see that there is a need in our sports it can only be beneficial for them.”

Smit is a coach, a mother and hardworking player who doesn’t feel that giving up is ever an option.

“I was fortunate enough to have been blessed with so much talent,” she began.

“Everything I ever set my mind on I have achieved but becoming a mother and wife is something I always wanted, so achieving this is probably my most greatest achievement.”

She also racked up many awards and achievements, but to name a few:

• 2009: Head Girl for Sport at Hoërkool Brandwag

• 2019: Being selected for the Samurai team and winning the Battle of the Roses Tournament held at Willowmore by Easterns.

• 2019: Receiving the Chairman’s award at Benoni Northerns

“I love managing and taking up leadership roles when it comes to sport,” said Smit.

“I’m blessed to have the talent of being able to set a goal and achieve it. I don’t take no for an answer. I’d rather take a step back analyse and then give it another go.

“So my advice to all the young girls out there is go for it. Dream big! Never feel that you are not good enough. Work hard, stay humble and kind always. There are people out there passionate about your growth. As long as you stay committed and passionate the rest will work out for you. Rome was not built in a day.
“Believe that you are wonderfully made and if that is not possible, give me a call little one!”

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