Ilembe cricket club bowler has that winning mentality

Ambitious Ilembe Cricket Club opening bowler, Aaron Pillay is determined to become one of the top bowlers in the province.

Pillay (24) started playing cricket when he was in primary school and his talent was noticed by other players when he was in Grade 8 at Stanger Manor Secondary School.

“They invited me to join the Manor Cricket Academy and due to my performance, I was selected for the senior team. I am really glad that I joined the academy because that is where I was groomed as a bowler,” said Pillay.

After joining the Manor club and while in high school, Pillay was selected for the Ilembe cricket team that now plays in the KZN Castle Premier League.

His love for another sport, soccer, caused an injury that almost cost him his cricket career.

“I was playing soccer with my friends and I suffered a knee injury that I still suffer from. I cannot play soccer anymore but I can play cricket and volleyball.”

Still nursing that injury, he won the best bowling award in 2018/2019 season, which he describes as the highlight of his sports career so far.

“I was not even supposed to play at that time but I managed to push myself. Getting that award really boosted my self-esteem.”

Although confident about his sports career, Pillay knows that it can end at anytime so he has also concentrated on his education.

He holds a town planning degree from the Durban University of Technology and is working as an acquisition engineer at an Umhlanga company.

“Sport also helps me to have that winning mentality, even at work, because when playing a sport there is nothing that you play for besides winning,” said Pillay.

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