{"id":90654,"date":"2015-05-31T16:50:00","date_gmt":"2015-05-31T14:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/90654\/young-cricket-talent-shines\/"},"modified":"2015-06-03T09:39:00","modified_gmt":"2015-06-03T07:39:00","slug":"young-cricket-talent-shines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/sports-news\/2015\/05\/31\/young-cricket-talent-shines\/","title":{"rendered":"Young cricket talent shines"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sunnyridge Primary School\u2019s Jayde Symons (12) is part of the South African cricket team which will fly off to Australia, in September.<\/span><\/p>\n

This u-18 team is the same one of which Parkhill Gardens\u2019 Samantha Schutte is a member (GCN, May 8).<\/p>

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\u201cThe team for which Symons has been selected will represent South Africa at the 2015 Indoor Cricket World Cup, from September 20 to October 5,\u201d said Symons\u2019s mathematics teacher and cricket coach, Blessing Mupfumisi.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started playing cricket when I was in Grade Two, in 2011, but I was introduced to indoor cricket last year,\u201d said Symons.<\/p>

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\u201cIndoor cricket is a lot faster and more active.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mupfumisi said Symons is a talented and versatile player.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe is an all-rounder; she’s a wicketkeeper in the senior mixed schools team this year, she also bowls and she is also very good with the bat,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI must say, to me it didn\u2019t come as a surprise when she made it to the South African team, because she is vivacious and does her best in everything.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would say she earned it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Symons told the GCN that she was invited to try out for the national team.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast year, my friend\u2019s parents took us for indoor trials at the Edenvale Action Sports Arena and then, after the season, my mother received a phone call earlier this year, telling her that I was invited to come for trials for the national team,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were three trial sessions, with the first one being in January and the last in March.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked how the news of her selection made her feel, Symons said it still hadn\u2019t sunk in.<\/p>\n

\u201cI still can\u2019t believe it yet, my mother was there when we got the news and it actually made her cry,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first person I called was Coach Mupfumisi, to let him know I made it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAt first we couldn\u2019t believe it, but we are very proud of her,\u201d said Marianna Odendaal, Sunnyridge Primary School’s principal.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe other interesting factor is that she is 12 and the other team members are 17.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am actually the youngest and the shortest and have a nickname, \u2018Shorty\u2019,\u201d joked Symons.<\/p>\n

The Grade Six Sunnyridge Primary School pupil said she used to follow cricket before she started playing it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI used to watch a lot of women\u2019s cricket and thought to myself that I can actually do this sport – and the rest is history,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast year, I played for the Edenvale Action Arena during the autumn season and the team actually won the league.\u201d<\/p>\n

Symons agreed with Odendaal that she will not be representing only the country, but the school, as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis will bring some glam to the school; we have an international board where we put the pupils’ names in the respective sporting codes in which they represented the school on an international level,\u201d said Odendaal.<\/p>\n

\u201cSymons is among the children who are ambassadors in every way at school.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mupfumisi also said Symons is among the top academic achievers at the school.<\/p>\n

Among other accolades, the young cricketer has claimed a top 10 position since Grade Four and, when she was in Grade Three, she received the Principal\u2019s Award.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is also important to note that Symons is a strong academic achiever,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHer achievements in both academics and sports embodies the school\u2019s motto \u2018In Ardua Petit\u2019, basically meaning reach for the stars and you serve your community,\u201d said Odendaal.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce she gets her gear we will have a special assembly and recognise what she has achieved, and obviously our blessings will go with her.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe really is the kind of child who has always excelled.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe received a very good report from her pre-school, saying that she already had colours at pre-primary level.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe will receive half-colours for her achievements at pre-school level, which will be full colours, because she will represent the country, let alone the school.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur colours are strict and you really have to earn them, but this like I said is a proud achievement.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt really is a proud moment for me, as not many coaches find themselves in the position I am in now, to can say one of my players is actually going to Australia representing South Africa,\u201d said Mupfumisi.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt shows that you get out of life what you put in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Symons added that one of her dreams is to be a member of the South African women\u2019s cricket team.<\/p>\n

\u201cI see myself as a professional cricket player one day,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cA big thank you to all the people who supported me and continue to do so; my friends, family members, my teachers and my coaches.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are also in need of sponsors to help with the costs; we have raised R26 000 so far and we have to get to R39 000.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will appreciate any amount, big or small, it will make a huge difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe school will make a contribution towards her trip once the school governance has passed that,\u201d said Odendaal.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnybody willing to sponsor me can contact my mother, Nicolette,\u201d said Symons.<\/p>\n

For more information call Nicolette on 072 147 5167, or email her at supermumof3@gmail.com.<\/p>\n

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You may also be interested in:<\/p>\n

Youngster heads for World Cup.<\/a><\/p>\n

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