I AM a Paarlite who works in Pretoria and shuttles home at least once a month.I did play cricket in Paarl representing a premier league club.
A number of years ago it was a rare sight to see a hundred spectators at a club cricket match, no matter which clubs were involved.
Whenever I am in Paarl, I don’t miss out on the opportunity to go watch club cricket, no matter which team is playing at home (if my club is playing away).
I am often left gaping in awe to see the number of spectators at local club matches numbering a couple of thousand.
In the light of this it is clear that our community desperately needs something to escape the hardship and realities of everyday life.
It is a known fact that the larger part of our community live in poverty stricken, crime ridden and drug infested areas and are looking for something good and positive to associate themselves with.
The cricketers of our beautiful and beloved valley created that opportunity to our people. An opportunity (to the people) to associate themselves with their own sons, grandsons, nephews, cousins, sons of neighbours or friends. An opportunity to escape and to indulge in the competitive rivalry between cricketers, who are more than often related ,but play for different clubs.
The best part of it is that after the matches the competitors stay friends and interested in one another’s achievements.
Matches are being discussed and debated amongst people who never in their lives even handled a cricket ball. Clubs and the abilities of individual players are being defended vigorously and club support and association is growing by the week.
The beauty of it all is that people and mostly our youth, now have role models to look up to and institutions (clubs) to associate themselves with.
I have witnessed the friendly rivalry amongst families and friends which is good for our people as a whole. People sitting together under one tree, sharing a drink but shouting for different teams. This is an example of a people hungry to share a common interest other than the conditions under which they must live their everyday lives. Even if they disagree about a specific team.
Therefor I would like to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to all cricket players in our valley for creating this fantastic opportunity for our community, especially the young.
Thank you for playing sport and thank you for offering your weekends to entertain our people and to be their role models. Thank you to your families for allowing you to do this. Thank you for playing the gentlemen’s game. Thank you for affording your community an opportunity to escape the modern day burdens of life although it is only temporarily.
This vote of thanks also goes to all the administrators and coaches who make all this possible.
I also wish to thank Boland Cricket for making available their facilities to our clubs to showcase themselves as it is any youngster’s dream to play on his provincial field.
Thank you Paarl Post for reporting on matches and highlighting future clashes as our people read this and respond to it in a positive manner.
Last but not least, thank you to the clubs in Paarl for being the institutions that you are and affording our talented young men the opportunity to show their class.
You all make me a proud Paarlite and ex-cricketer and will always have my support.
Congratulations to Paarl East CC on winning the Pro 20 competition but most of all, congratulations to all cricketers who participated in the various competitions. Thank you Paarl for sup- porting cricket.
Brian Oppelt
