Behind every success is unseen hard work, sacrifice, and persistence, which is how Sollie Barnard’s 20-year tenure as chairman of Tuks Cricket Club can be best summarised.

TuksCricket Club is arguably one of the best club sides in the world. Over the last 20 years, this club has dominated local cricket, winning every tournament they competed at least once.

In addition, they also have won various international tournaments.

With Barnard set to retire on the West Coast, getting him to talk or, more precisely, brag about his role in this success story is nearly impossible. At best, Barnard would admit to doing what is expected of any good chairman.

But when you talk to Kruger van Wyk, TuksCricket Head of Programme, he will tell you that Barnard is one of the club’s unsung heroes.

“Sollie is part of a dying breed in amateur sport. Not many would give their time and effort for 20 years without expecting anything in return. Sollie did. As his chairman, he was never paid. All that mattered was to help ensure that Tuks were at their best every time they took to the field. I will always be grateful for the role he played at Tuks,” Van Wyk said during a recent interview.

Barnard is quick to answer that each time the club won the International Red Bull Campus Tournament was very special.

“Something I am really proud of is how TuksCricket has become a feeder team to our provincial franchise teams and national sides. From 2016 to now, seven Tuks cricketers have captained the Proteas. For the men’s side, it was AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen and Neil Brand. Mignon du Preez and Sune Luus captained the women’s national side. I would love this tradition to continue. If we can find a sponsor, TuksCricket could have a bigger impact on South African cricket,” he summed up the success in a nutshell.

Khabelo Khaas, a Business Development Manager operating right across Africa, was recently elected as TuksCricket’s new chairman.

How he got interested in cricket is quite interesting. This is how Khaas tells the story.

“During the 1994 school holidays, there was a day that it rained, and I could not go and play outside. As I flicked through the television channels, I saw South Africa was playing India in a test. I was glued all day with curiosity and questions about this technical yet exciting-looking sport. Luckily, there was a cricket field close to home, so I decided to give it a shot. I fell in love because I found something that I felt almost naturally talented to play. I could bowl from day one.

“As a sport, cricket provides ups and downs and allows you to react to the circumstances almost immediately, whether as a batsman or bowler. I have learned many life lessons, including leadership and teamwork, which stand out. That’s what made cricket special to me.”

Khaas played provincial cricket at school level, from under-15 to under-19 Khaya Majola week, for Northerns (Titans). He also played for the Titans Colt side. Later, he served on the Titans Board.

“Tuks is a household name, as far as I’m concerned the best holistic tertiary institution in the country, with a highly competitive culture. With my experience, I could add value by bringing a different perspective to the club and continuing learning in the journey. To take the club to the next level will be tough to define for a club that has achieved so much glory. However, the club should be given more international recognition by forming synergies. I want to create a platform for players to have global options, from playing to further overseas studies,” Khaas summed up his future vision for the club.

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