Howzat! Dale Steyn visits Glen Austin High School

Steyn, who has been affectionately dubbed the ‘Steyn Remover’, has teamed up with detergent company OMO in their Ready For Life campaign which promotes the importance of setting goals at a young age.

Dirk van Niekerk, deputy principal of the school said, “The children had to set goals for themselves and in [conjunction] collect OMO bottle caps.”

The school’s Grade 8 class collected the most caps in the country which meant that each pupil in the class received a R500 sports equipment voucher. As the winning school in the country, the school received R10 000. Van Niekerk said the value of the competition went beyond having a prominent figure visit their school, but it also supplemented their life orientation programme through the goals that the children have set themselves.

Head of sports at the school, Loshnee Iyer, said they were a sports orientated school and that Steyn’s presence meant a great deal to budding athletes. “The world’s next fastest bowler is definitely going to come from our school,” quipped Iyer.

“When the children found out that he would be at our school, the assembly went crazy.”

Steyn signed some memorabilia for the school to mark his visit and gave an encouraging speech to the pupils about reaching their goals. He said there was a bright future for South Africa’s budding fast bowlers. “[As aspiring sportsmen and sportswomen] it is important to remember to have fun. Mentors must remember to make the game fun for young athletes,” he said.

Let Midrand Reporter know of your school’s performance in the upcoming athletics season on midrandreporter@caxton.co.za