Titans honour two cricket superstars and legends of SuperSport Park
The careers of two of South Africa's greatest ever cricketers have unfolded together for almost two decades and they both started as juniors at SuperSport Park in Centurion, where they were also honoured together by the Titans last week.
Even the greatest of players start their journeys not knowing what the future holds.
For two young Afrikaner boys, who both grew up in the Limpopo province, their primary school years where cricket sometimes brought them together at the same tournaments, eventually culminated in illustrious careers on the most famous cricket grounds in the world.
AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn are two of the very best talents the cricket world has ever seen.
On 18 August, the iconic pair of Proteas and Titans legends were honoured at a breakfast which also saluted four long-standing partners that have supported Titans Cricket for 30 years and more.
Photo by Lee Warren
The long-standing partnerships are with Lazarus Motor Company, Coca-Cola South Africa, South African Breweries and Jacaranda FM.
“It’s really humbling to be honoured like this. I still remember coming here for the first time, at 18 or 19 years of age. Aaron Phangiso and I arrived together, and it’s amazing to look back 20 years later,” Steyn reflected after the function.
Steyn, South Africa’s champion fast bowler, explained how deeply embedded the Titans make every player become.
“The best word to describe it is a family. Some of the sponsors that were honoured today have been around for 30 years. That’s a long time, almost as long as I’ve been alive”, Steyn said of the significant support that the Titans have enjoyed over the years.
Photo: Lee Warren
Alongside Steyn was De Villiers, a darling of SuperSport Park’s audiences for two decades.
The batting legend and Steyn took a walk down memory lane, spending time back in the change-room they shared for so many seasons of success.
“It’s such a special place, for anyone who has ever worn the jersey,” De Villiers reflected.
As they took in the reception given to them, De Villiers said he also looked back on a very special path that he and Steyn have been on.
“Dale and I have shared so many amazing memories. Our Test debut was in the same game, and then we have won so much together with the Titans. And we travelled the world together. It’s always special to come back here,” he remarked.
For the Titans, the day was a chance to say a sincere thank you to wonderful sponsors off the field and legends on the field.
“We can never take the people we work with for granted. AB and Dale started here, and went on to incredible things around the world. I can’t say enough about our sponsors. Without their support, the game doesn’t move forward. We consider ourselves very fortunate to have such support,” Titans Cricket CEO Dr Jacques Faul commented.
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