Tour Special South Africa 2012: Ons gaan in die Kaap ... - kon HCVV

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Two captains on a strip: Tonny Staal & Hidde Overdijk An interview by JACOB-JAN ESMEIJER They are sworn friends, they are classmates, they even made their maiden century on the same day in 2011 and they love sending Tweets and playing a game of FIFA on any console. No wonder the nicknames Knabbel and Babbel (the Dutch version of Chip and Dale) were given to them… But there is a huge responsibility for the captain and vice captain ahead when they lead the 13man squad both on and off the Capetonian cricket fields. “Fun, everlasting friendship and playing some proper cricket are our team objectives.” It will be a massive experience in their early years as HCC cricket players to be away from home to play the best game in the world. Under totally different circumstances, that is. “In Holland, we’re used to play on artificial strips. It’s a different game than playing on turf”, says captain Staal (15). “Not all Dutch clubs have turf wickets. But when we play on grass, batsmen will play of the front foot most of the times. That will be a different story in Cape Town where fierce bowling and rock hard strips will tell us that the game is a different league in a country where cricket is one of the main sports. A great challenge for the entire team facing some genuine pace under a blistering sun! Our cricket can only improve in the two weeks of cricket that’s ahead of us.” Vice captain Overdijk, also 15 years of age, adds: “We are very united team. We know each other through and 6 TOUR SPECIAL SOUTH AFRICA December 2011 Tonny Hidde through. Not only during the soccer season we see each other a lot, but also in our free time we catch up and enjoy each other’s company. Our strengths are definitely the good atmosphere and the will to win. We aim to win every match we play and we have all the artillery to do so. But playing school and club teams in South Africa will be a real tough challenge. They play cricket as soon as they’re able to walk, and in Holland it’s the soccer ball that’s dominant. It’s going to be a test of character as well: how will our bowlers reply when a batsman takes him on? Or when a batsman scores less runs then he is used to? At these moments, a captain a vice captain should help teammates out and motivate them. Therefore, the tour will then be more than ‘just’ cricket.” “We became Holland’s U15 champions last year, which was the icing on our cricketing cake”, Tonny adds. “But playing a local Dutch team or a South African club team is a huge difference. We do have a well-balanced side with proper pacers as Floris de Lange and Douwe Schoemaker. As a spinner, Folkert Beerens has put a lot of effort in his bowling and has had a great season! Daniel Trijzelaar, Pieter de Buck, Hidde and I hope to be able to contribute with the bat. Laurens Jan Lagas is very experienced with the gloves. But also to other players will do the talking with either bat or ball. I prefer to bat first when we win the toss, but it also depends on the weather and the strip we’ll play on.” It goes without saying that ‘Knabbel & Babbel’ as well as the rest of the touring squad are counting the days before they finally jump on that plane to South Africa. Tonny: “It’s going to be a massive experience, and I think that I can speak for all my team mates that we feel very privileged being part of this tour. I hope it will make us realize that not everything in life is as logical as it seems. We hope that with the special Zuid Afrika Sport container project, we’ve been able to do something back for our fellow sporting friends in the Cape region.”
Operation Croissant a huge success WHAT A FRENCH ROLL CAN DO TO YOUR CRICKET… At the beginning of last season, the current U16 team came together and went through various topics that would bring them the title at the end of the 2011 season. What are your personal objectives? Want do you want to achieve? How does for example nutritious food contribute to your performances? Or are you happy by going through the motions and make it a mediocre season? In other words: do you want to be some half-baked bread, or a genuine ‘croissant’ (in French, la croissance means growth)? The French roll became the metaphor for the season. The players did everything they could in order to make things happen. Winter trainings were well visited, they worked hard and the hunger for the red leather grew by �� the day. HCC club coach Rasheed Lewis was impressed when he arrived in Holland. “I don’t know, but they’re definitely something different about this team. They’re organized, punctual and hungry… Great to see.” The result at the end of the national competition was the silverware, as the front cove of this magazine shows you! And successes should be celebrated with everyone. That’s why all players got a tin of croissant dough to bake their parents some tasty croissants on a Sunday morning. In the end, the parents have been of great value to their son’s achieved successes. And to make sure all players did prepare za French rolls, a photo was a compulsory proof (…or it never took place). Operation Croissant was a success. Mission accomplished. Daniël Trijzelaar December 2011 TOUR SPECIAL SOUTH AFRICA 7
Page 1 and 2: � SPECIAL � Tour Special South
Page 3 and 4: December 2011 TOUR SPECIAL SOUTH AF
Page 5: Life lessons JEROEN SMITS The wait
Page 9 and 10: Player profiles Tonny ‘Babbel’
Page 11 and 12: vain, Floris Duvekot, Volkert van d
Page 13 and 14: Enjoy this fantastic cricket trip!
Page 15 and 16: Diepput in the coming months, and w
Page 17 and 18: Die konneksie met Holland The Dutch
Page 19 and 20: Good luck with the cricket, and mak

Tour Special South Africa 2012: Ons gaan in die Kaap ... - kon HCVV

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