SAPS cricketers catch the ball and the bad guys
The Ladysmith SAPS cricket team was able to come back with fifth place in the tournament
Members of the Ladysmith SAPS cricket team went to Bloemfontein last week to participate in a tournament where they played nine games against all nine provinces, as well as head office.
In an exclusive interview, we were able to speak to a few of the players.
Shaun Fourie, the SAPS cricket team’s captain, started playing the game in primary school.
“I started playing because you meet new people, make friends, get to see other towns and learn to be a team player,” said Shaun.
He continued with the sport right through high school and joined the SAPS in 2003.
He went to England with the SAPS team in 2004, returning with a gold medal and first place. Shaun is not only a policeman and a cricketer, but a father with children who also play the game of cricket. Even his four-year-old plays! Shaun’s role model is Hansie Cronjé.
“I would like to thank all the people who supported me and helped me to go on tour,” concluded Shaun.
Naeem Mohammed has been playing cricket since the age of nine years old. After going from strength to strength at high school, he went on to play for the local K&L team and is currently playing for Dundee as well as the SAPS team.
It is his third year playing national for the SAPS. Being both an opening batsman and opening bowler, it comes as no surprise that on Friday, Naeem won the ‘best batsman’ award for the day with 70 runs from 35 balls. On the bowling side, Naeem took two wickets in four overs, with only 13 runs scored. Having joined the SAPS cricket team in 2003, Naeem looks up to Hashim Amla and David Miller as role models.
When asked what they would say to budding cricketers out there, both Shaun and Naeem said you should just go out and enjoy the sport. Naeem hopes to be captain some day soon.
Gerald Juggiah, who recently became a father, still makes time for sport and says he loves all sports. First picking up a cricket bat at the tender age of five because it was a fun sport and a team sport, Gerald is certain that his son will follow in his footsteps. As evidence of his all-round sporting prowess, Gerald is on the SAPS national soccer, tennis, athletics and cricket teams.
His role model is Jonty Rhodes, a lightning quick fielder and no slouch with the bat either. This is Gerald’s first year playing cricket for the SAPS.
The Ladysmith SAPS cricket team was able to come back with fifth place in the tournament. Well done, guys!
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