KZN Cricket wins big at awards

THE KZN Cricket Union celebrated bagging eight significant awards won by their representatives at this past weekend’s Cricket South Africa Awards ceremony.

Grant Roelofsen received two awards, Dave Miller scored one, young Nkululeko Mlaba and Shabnim Ismail won one each, newcomer Ruan de Swardt with two and Mercia Baatjies was named KFC Mini Cricket Coordinator of the year along with her counterpart from Easterns.

Hollywoodbets Dolphins wicket-keeper batsman Grant Roelofsen has been the stand-out player for the Durban side this past season where he ended the Momentum One Day Cup as the competition’s top run scorer and also shone brightly in their 4-Day Domestic Series campaign.

Roelofsen walked away with the Momentum One Day Cup Player of the Year and the prestigious Domestic Players’ Player of the Year Award for his consistent performances for the Dolphins throughout the season.

“To be acknowledged by my peers is hugely rewarding and satisfying. For them to give me this award is incredible and it justifies all the hard work that I have done behind the scenes. For my fellow cricketers to see that all the hard work paid off and I relayed it onto the field was a huge highlight for me,” Roelofsen said.

After such a strong break-out season Roelofsen is determined to reach for higher honours, however the youngster is going to be patient in making sure that he eventually achieves his goals. “I wouldn’t say there is any unnecessary pressure at the moment, it’s healthy to have that pressure and I want to be on the world stage playing against the best in the world. But that’s all in due time and there is a process that needs to be followed. I’ve learnt a lot of patience over the last few seasons and I know that I have to just keep performing well and knocking the door down,” he said.

Dolphins star David Miller was also a winner when he took home SA Fans’ Player of the Year.

It was a strong showing too from the Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal Women’s team members who bagged two awards over the weekend. Nonkululeko Mlaba won the International Women’s Newcomer of the Year award while seamer Shabnim Ismail won the Momentum Proteas T20 Cricketer of the Year award.

President of the KwaZulu-Natal Cricket Union Ben Dladla shared that he is proud of how the players and administrators from the KZN Cricket Union have performed.

“We at KZN Cricket are very proud of the achievements of our players and administrators at these national awards,” Dladla said. “We are happy that they continue to fly the flag of KZNCU high and their achievements are evidence that their hard work is paying off.”

Dladla highlighted the importance of Mlaba’s award and how it is further proof that grass root structures in the province are reaping rewards. “To see one of our young female cricketers being given a prestigious award is hugely encouraging and means the development programme and pipeline in KZN is producing results.”

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19. For any comments or queries, contact the National Group Editor, Irma Green at irma@caxton.co.za or the Legal Adviser, Helene Eloff at  helene@caxton.co.za.

DID YOU KNOW?
Click on the words highlighted in red to read more on this and related topics.
To receive news links via WhatsApp or Telegram, send an invite to 061 876 3179
The Southlands Sun is also on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest – why not join us there?

Do you have more information pertaining to this story?
Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.

To receive our free newsletter click here

(Comments posted on this issue may be used for publication in the Sun)