Blanche Conradie – from wide-eyed student to mainstay cricket administrator
Meet Blanche Conradie, the woman who was one of the major contributors to the unprecedented success of Tuks Cricket over the past decade and for whom great expectations are held in the administration of this sport.
Blanche Conradie’s name has over the years been synonymous with sport. This SA u.19 Men’s Cricket team manager, chairperson of the University Sports South Africa (USSA) Cricket Executive, and the TuksCricket Manager, completed a BCom followed by an Honours degree in Sports Management at the University of Pretoria (Tuks).
Born and bred in Pretoria, Conradie hails from a rich cricket ancestry. Her grandfather was Chairperson of the Waterval Boven Cricket Club and used to share tantalizing stories of great cricketers he used to watch at the Wanderers stadium.
“I attended my first cricket match with my parents at SuperSport when the Proteas played with the West Indies and the latter suffered their first whitewash. Unfortunately, my grandfather was not there. But after that, with the England Series that was hosted by South Africa in 1998, my grandfather came with us. We never missed a cricket match at SuperSport Park ever since,” Conradie explained during a recent interview.
As part of her junior degree, Conradie had to do hours in any sport of choice. Being an ardent fan of cricket, it was natural of her to work at TuksCricket as a volunteer. She was subsequently employed as a part-time sports administrator. This was followed by full-time employment at TuksCricket.
“In 2016 I was appointed Manager of the Club and had the opportunity to work with the likes of Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, Lungi Ngidi and Tony de Zorzi who were all our student cricketers before they moved on to franchise and provincial cricket,” recalled Conradie.
On her part, Conradie went on to work as USSA SA team manager, during which time she worked with, amongst others, Lutho Sipamla and Janneman Malan.
“It is during that period that I met the current Proteas Test cricket coach, Shukri Conrad who was convener of selectors at the time. When he was appointed the SA u.19 head coach, he approached me to become team manager. I accepted the offer without a second thought,” Conradie remarked.
Photo: Supplied
She beams with joy as she reflects on her job as SA u.19 team manager.
“Oh, I love the team management environment. I really enjoy solving problems and making sure that things are in place. The biggest responsibility is ensuring that players get everything they need to perform on the field. It’s fulling to be part of the team and to share in the thrill that it brings,” she said.
On working with young players and keeping them motivated, Conradie admits that, being in the university space and seeing players she worked with make it to playing at international levels is humbling and fulfilling.
“Heinrich Klaasen, for instance, played provincial cricket for a very long time. He only made his debut with the Titans aged 24 and the Proteas setup in his late twenty’s. We also had players like Donovan Ferreira who struggled for years, left the game, and came back. Tony de Zorzi had tough times but worked himself back up,” she elaborated.
The many moments of working with young players is a source of inspiration to the committed Conradie. She noted that every moment is a teaching moment for players who are eager to improve their lot and contribute to the overall cricket landscape.
Despite working in the male-dominated set-up, Conradie was never made to feel out of sorts in her role as the SA u.19 Men’s team manager. She does concede though that when she started at the University, and when she walked into cricket meetings, she would attract “wide-eyed” looks. Fortunately, that has changed as more women participate in the administration and other layers of sport.
“It’s a privilege to be part of those young lives and to witness their hunger and temperament for growth. I have been very fortunate to have worked with great coaches over the last few years. I wouldn’t have asked for more,” Conradie concluded.
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
