Oakdale’s cricket coaches, Andre Bester and Tjaart Naude, have expressed their optimism and long-term vision for the school’s cricket programme as they prepare for the upcoming tournament.
TRAVELLING all the way from Riversdal, in the Western Cape, Oakdale High School’s cricket captain, Adriaan van der Merwe told the DFA that he is confident in his team’s preparation for the upcoming Diamantveld T20 Cricket Festival, emphasising their focus on mastering the fundamentals and executing strategies at a high level.
“I believe we are well-prepared as a team for this tournament. We’ve been working hard to ensure our basics are strong and our execution of skills and strategies is sharp,” Van der Merwe said. “We’ve incorporated a variety of training exercises to improve all aspects of the game, but ultimately, it’s about staying disciplined, working hard, and functioning as a united team.”
Van der Merwe highlighted the importance of composure under pressure, adding, “It’s going to be crucial to handle high-pressure situations and make calculated decisions when it matters most.”
Looking ahead, he sees the tournament as a unique opportunity for both individual and team growth. “We expect this tournament to provide us with a platform to further develop cricket at Oakdale and to strengthen the bond we share as teammates for the rest of the season.”
The skipper says that representing Oakdale at one of the country’s premier school tournaments is a significant honour for the team. “This is a wonderful opportunity for us to represent our school on such a large stage, to uphold Oakdale’s reputation and to demonstrate the brotherhood we have as a team,” he told the DFA.
“For school cricket, this tournament means a lot,” he added. “It gives us, as players, the chance to showcase the hard work we’ve put in during the off-season.”
Meanwhile, Oakdale’s cricket coaches, Andre Bester and Tjaart Naude, have expressed their optimism and long-term vision for the school’s cricket programme as they prepare for the upcoming tournament. While confident in their team’s abilities, the coaches see the event as an invaluable chance to develop the sport at Oakdale.
“We are confident in the ability of our players,” said Bester. “However, we view this as the perfect opportunity to enhance cricket at Oakdale. Our focus has been on establishing a cricket culture that promotes all aspects of the game.”
Naude echoed these sentiments, emphasising the importance of exposure to high-quality cricket. “Our goal is to immerse our players in a strong cricket culture and give them as much exposure to top-level cricket as possible,” he said.
“We are currently in a phase of developing the sport at our school, and this tournament provides the ideal platform for that growth.”
Both coaches expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to participate in such events, believing that these tournaments play a crucial role in nurturing cricket talent. “We are thankful to be involved, and we believe that tournaments like this will help grow cricket in South Africa,” Bester concluded.
