‘The tournament will take place every year, and the school will work towards fielding a competitive team against recognised cricket schools in the future’ – Francois Holtzhausen, Diamantveld management team member.
THE INAUGURAL Hoërskool Diamantveld T20 Schools tournament has been hailed as a resounding triumph.
Despite the challenging cold and wet weather that swept over Kimberley during the competition, schools from across the region came together to take on the gathered competitors and display their cricketing prowess.
Francois Holtzhausen, a member of Diamantveld’s management team, shared his thoughts on the tournament’s success with the DFA. “I think it was a tremendous success,” he remarked.
“The schools thoroughly enjoyed it, and there were outstanding matches. It was also the first of its kind. Even with the poor weather conditions – the cold, rain, and wind – the support was excellent.”
One of the standout features of this tournament was the chance for participating teams to compete on an international-level cricket pitch.
Holtzhausen emphasised the significance of this privilege, stating, “It’s an incredible opportunity for players from all the schools to compete on facilities equivalent to those used by international players, and it was even televised. I believe every player found it to be an incredible experience and is eagerly looking forward to next year.”
Despite their successes, Holtzhausen acknowledged that more exposure to renowned cricket schools is necessary. He explained saying, “We believe we need more exposure to well-established cricket schools. The tournament is one way to play more matches against strong competition under pressure in Kimberley.”
The participation of other schools and the local community was also met with enthusiasm. Holtzhausen noted, “We received a lot of interest from other schools wanting to be part of the tournament next year. We were excited about the positive feedback from the community and their involvement.”
The impact of this tournament on the cricket culture and development at Hoërskool Diamantveld was described as overwhelmingly positive. Holtzhausen said, “The positive impact was incredible. Players were excited, and their preparation reached a whole new level.
“We’ve already seen more players and parents getting involved at all levels of cricket in the school and the community. I believe the benefits will continue to grow next year, and the tournament was something Kimberley and the province needed.”
When asked about specific standout players or performances, Holtzhausen mentioned, “There are too many to name, but our bowling was particularly impressive. I believe our batting also improved as the tournament progressed.”
Looking ahead, the school has ambitious plans for both the T20 Schools tournament and its cricket programme in general. Holtzhausen, looking ahead, said, “The tournament will take place every year, and the school will work towards fielding a competitive team against recognised cricket schools in the future.
“We have already hired additional coaches to enhance our cricketing capabilities and even help with coaching at primary schools.
“We also aim to provide an opportunity for the Northern Cape Heat to identify and develop young talent to represent them in the future.”
Regarding the continuation of this tournament’s success, Holtzhausen said, “Our first step is to continue to attract recognised cricket schools and maintain the collaboration of all parties involved to make this the best tournament in the country. I believe Diamantveld and Northern Cape Cricket can make it a success.”
Reflecting on the lessons learned from organising this tournament, Holtzhausen concluded, “While the tournament was a huge success, there are always areas for improvement. We will certainly address any shortcomings and strive to offer the highest level of cricket in the country in the future.”
