End of an era for Steinhoff Maties Cricket : 2016-05-11
The 2016 National Club Championships proved to be the end of an era and the start of the next for the Steinhoff Maties Cricket team.
Not only did Maties had to say goodbye to legends Dewald Human and Emile Kriek, but the team also saw glimpses of what the future might hold with the performances of first year bowlers Kyle Simmonds and Brandon Glover.
“The Club Champs proved to be a great experience for the team and really motivated the players to raise their intensity levels and play a high standard of cricket. Winning three out of five matches against quality opposition was a satisfactory trip,” said coach Andrew Wylie.
“Our objective of going one step further than last year’s final was not to be. Losing to Pukke in the third match proved crucial and ultimately cost us a chance at playing in the final.” Pukke with 10 first class cricketers beat Maties by four wickets in a tightly contested match and would eventually go on to be crowned champions as they beat Tukkies comfortably by eight wickets in the final.
But it was the performances of the next generation that gave Wylie reason to smile. “The younger players that included 4 first year’s performed brilliantly and will develop quickly after such a tough tournament. Batting conditions early on proved very difficult and this took some adapting from the usual slow low Boland wickets we are accustomed to.”
With regards to Botha and Kriek it is obvious that even though they played their last matches for Maties, their legacy will remain. “Dewald has been the key to our success the past few years. He is extremely competitive and really has an infectious confidence that the players respond brilliantly too. He is a gifted player and has the ability to win games for his side from difficult positions. His all-round ability and tactical awareness will be missed. Emile is an incredibly talented player who has a natural feel for the game. As a leader he leads from the front with an uncompromising attitude in tight situations. He has been a stalwart for many years at the club and a player the youngsters really look up to and respect. I have yet to see anyone at tertiary level with his ability in the field and catching prowess.”
AFRIKAANS
Einde van ‘n era vir Steinhoff Maties Krieket
Die 2016 Nasionale Klubkampioenskapstoernooi was die einde van ‘n era en die begin van die volgende vir die Steinhoff Maties Krieketspan.
Nie net het Maties afskeid geneem van legendes Dewald Human en Emile Kriek nie, maar die afrigter het ook kans gekry om te sien wat die toekoms inhou met die vertonings van eerstejaar-boulers Kyle Simmonds en Brandon Glover.
“Die toernooi was ‘n wonderlike ervaring vir die spelers en het hulle regtig gemotiveerd om hul intensiteitvlakke te verbeter en ‘n hoër standaard van krieket te speel. Om drie uit vyf wedstryde teen gehalte opposisie te wen, was bevredigend,” het afrigter Andrew Wylie gesê.
“Ons doel om ‘n stap verder te gaan as verlede jaar se plek in die eindstryd was nie vir ons beskore nie. Die nederlaag teen Pukke in die derde wedstryd was deurslaggewend en het uiteindelik ons ‘n kans op ‘n plek in die eindstryd gekos.” Pukke, met 10 eersterangse spelers, het Maties met vier paaltjies geklop in ‘n uiters mededingende wedstryd. Hulle het ook uiteindelik die toernooi gewen deur Tukkies met agt paaltjies in die eindstryd te klop.
Maar dit was die vertonings van die volgende generasie spelers wat Wylie rede gegee het om te glimlag. “Die jonger spelers wat 4 eerstejaars ingesluit het, het briljant vertoon en hulle sal vining ontwikkel na so intense toernooi. Kolftoestande was baie moeilik en dit het aanpassing geverg van die gewone stadige Boland-kolfblaaie waaraan ons gewoond is.”
Met betrekking tot Botha en Kriek is dit duidelik dat al het hulle hul laaste wedstryde vir Maties gespeel, hul nalentenskap sal bly. “Dewald is ‘n uiters kompeterende persoon en het ‘n aansteeklike selfvertroue. Die span het ongelooflik gereageer op die speler en persoon was hy is. Hy is ‘n uiters talentvolle speler en beskik oor die vermoë om ‘n wedstryd vanuit ‘n moeilike situasie te wen. Sy veelsydigheid en taktiese bewustheid sal gemis word. Emile is ‘n ongelooflike talentvolle speler met ‘n natuurlike aanvoeling vir die spel. As ‘n leier lei hy met voorbeeld en het ‘n onwrikbare houding in moeilike situasies. Hy was ‘n staatmaker vir baie jare by die klub en ‘n speler na wie die jonger speler regtig opgekyk het en baie respek gehad het. Ek het nog nie iemand op tersiêre vlak gesien met Emile se veldwerk vermoë nie.”
