The Germiston Cricket Club is calling on people to come along and join their ranks.
The junior club started in August , last year, and are going from strength to strength.
Anybody who is interested in playing, experienced or not, is more than welcome to join the club.
“We have been running for a year now and we are always looking for new people, as we are building the club,” said coach and vice-chairman Brad Kellow.
Kellow, who has been a coach for four and a half years, is passionate about what he does and motivates the players while they practise.
The current full teams are u-13, u-15 and u-17.
There are a couple of young boys who fall into the u-7 and u-9 teams, but there are not enough to make two full teams.
The club doesn’t have games lined up yet, as they are still waiting for their fixtures, but in the meantime they are organising friendly games with other clubs.
There are tournaments in which the club participate and do really well, like the ABU ASVAT Tournament, where the u-13 team were the runners-up and received a trophy.
Girls are also welcome to join, and the club currently has two girls training with them.
“Most people think that club cricket is exclusive, and we want to assure people that it’s not,” said co-vice-chairman and also coach of the club Ellen White.
“People think that you have to be a professional in order to join the club, and this is not true, because this is where we develop skill.”
There are prize-giving events every year, where certificates and medals are handed out for best bowlers, fielders, batsmen and most improved players, to mention a few.
“Involvement from the community in any way can make the club better and stronger,” said Annelize Smit, the chairman of the club.
There is a joining fee, but this is paid per season and not per month.
The fee is used to buy equipment and for transportation when playing away games.
Smit, White and Kellow aren’t paid to train and guide the players, because they are doing this out of the goodness of their hearts to improve cricket and they expect nothing in return.
Other parents donate money and equipment to the club.
Such donations help in cases where there are players who really want to play but cannot afford the subscriptions.
There are a few sponsors who help the club and the club would welcome more sponsorship.
Practises are held every Friday, from 3pm to 5pm, and on Saturdays, from 8am to noon.
The practice is at the Germiston City Sports Club in Delville.
For more information contact Smit on 083 380 2317, or email her at annelize@payitforward.org.za, or call White on 071 887 3102, or email her at whiteellen@telkom.sa.net
