Dear Dolphins family
I trust this message find you well.
Powerplay
The past week was another one of turmoil for our beautiful country. Chaos and bad news seem to have become the norm and as a nation we are simply trying to cope and survive the challenges presented by each new day, instead of finding ways to move forward, grow and ultimately thrive.
It has unfortunately also been the order of the day for South African sport and our great game in particular. Our country’s macro political and economical situations have well and truly spilled over into the cricketing world and unfortunately it has the potential to undo many of the good things done by so many wonderful people in the cricket family over many years.
My biggest concern is that while our focus is on daily crisis management, the rest of the world’s cricketing nations are finding ways to grow the game in their respective countries and ultimately improving their positions in world cricket relative to ours. We seem to be perilously close to falling off the precipice, to a point of no return.
The good news however, is that we have not fallen off yet, and sometimes it is only when we reach this exact moment, the precipice of destruction, that we find the courage to evolve and to renew our focus. United South Africans are resilient, innovative, and together we have the ability to take on the world. Let us find a way to do exactly that!
THE INNER RING
A U G U S T 2 0 2 0 | T H I R D I N N I N G S
Inside the boundary rope
Over the next few weeks I will be sharing some profiles of the people behind the scenes, who are walking with me on this incredible journey.
This week the focus will be on my two Cricket Services Managers, Ritesh and Jason, who have made huge contributions over the past three years at KZN Coastal and KZN Inland, as well as Selina Munsamy, our Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal Women’s team manager, who is a prime example of selfless service to our beautiful game. Trust you will find these profiles interesting.
FULL NAME Ritesh Ramjee
TITLE Cricket Services Manager – KZN Coastal
DATE OF BIRTH 3 August 1984
HIGH SCHOOL Reservoir Hills Secondary
PRIMARY SCHOOL Durban Heights Primary WHY CRICKET?
Since the first time I held a Mini Cricket bat, I knew this was a sport that I am going to excel in. I remember one day in Primary School, when my friends and I were playing a match during the lunch break, I was fielding in the crowd with students standing around, the batsman played a lofted shot in my direction and I jumped to take a miraculous catch. My friends started to call me “Rhodes” and that inspired me to keep taking amazing catches whenever we played cricket on the field or tarmac in school. That nickname has stuck with me through my Schooling and University career, and even today my friends and wife still call me “RHODES”.
WHY DOLPHINS?
My romance with the Dolphins goes way back when my dad and uncle used to take to me the Benson and Hedges matches. Since then I wanted to play but never made the cut. I then decided to go into Sports Management and one day get a job with the Dolphins ……
ALL TIME FAVOURITE DOLPHIN PLAYER
Jonty Rhodes – being so energetic on field and set the standard for fielders in the world ALL TIME FAVOURITE DOLPHINS CAPTAIN
Shaun Pollock - His never die attitude FAVOURITE PART OF MY ROLE
Interacting with various people from different backgrounds and to see people enjoying the game, especially the youngsters from the disadvantaged communities.
FAVOURITE PART OF MY ROLE
My journey with the Dolphins/KZNCU/DDCU goes back 12 years now and I have learned so many lessons, every lesson moulding me into the person I am today, and every day I strive to be a better person than the person I was the day before. The most important lesson I've learned by far is to trust. Not just to trust in others or trust in myself, but to trust that life has a journey for each and every one of us.
FAVOURITE KINGSMEAD MEMORY I have two:
- Yuraj Singh hit Stuart Broad for 6 sixes in an over - Gary Kirsten scoring 275 against England
ASPIRATIONS FOR THE NEXT 5 YEARS
To keep this Union at the top in South Africa. To also, further my studies and eventually move up in the Sport Management environment .
I S S U E : 1 5 T H E I N N E R R I N G
FULL NAME Jason Sathiaseelan
TITLE Cricket Services Manager Inland DATE OF BIRTH 11 July 1967
HIGH SCHOOL Crossmoor Secondary
PRIMARY SCHOOL Attended various primary schools
WHY CRICKET?
I started my own cricket club when I was 22 years old. Very passionate about cricket and wanted to encourage people in my community to play the game. Passionate about being an administrator because I always wanted to make a difference. Served as executive and council member on DDCU and KZNCU for more than 25 years before being employed at KZNCU.
Schools cricket in Chatsworth was non existent and I started a schools league in 1998. Seeing the enthusiasm in the kids on Saturday mornings throughout Chatsworth just inspired me to keep kids busy so that they do not engage in the many bad influences in Chatsworth. The schools league produced more than 50 KZN school players in 14 years and there is no better motivation to continue making a difference in the lives of the youth from Chatsworth.
WHY DOLPHINS?
Started coaching at club level from an early age and my goal was always to produce Dolphins players from the community. Hence my contribution to wanting to make a positive difference in Dolphins cricket.
LESSONS LEARNT IN CRICKET ADMINISTRATION
Working as a team is crucial in obtaining positive results. It has been a challenge to lead a team of different cultures and personalities but a challenge that can work if managed effectively and inclusively.
ALL-TIME FAVOURITE DOLPHINS PLAYER
Malcolm Marshall – because of the positive energy he brought to KZN.
ALL TIME FAVOURITE DOLPHINS CAPTAIN
Dale Benkenstein – possessed awesome leadership qualities on and off the field and was able to perform with the responsibility placed on his shoulders.
FAVOURITE PART OF MY ROLE
Leading a dynamic staff that bought into the concept of wanting to be the best at all times.
FAVOURITE KINGSMEAD MEMORY
Watching Gary Kirsten score 275 runs in a test match.
ASPIRATIONS FOR THE NEXT 5 YEARS
To continue the project of leaving KZN Inland in a better place than when I started. To have an indoor training centre at the Pietermaritzburg Oval. You never know what the future holds in store for you but I am hoping that in five years I will be continuing to improve cricket activities in various areas.
FULL NAME Selina Munsamy
TITLE Hollywoodbets KZN Women Cricket Manager
HIGH SCHOOL Buffelsdale Secondary
PRIMARY SCHOOL Silverdale Primary WHY CRICKET?
WHY NOT, just because I am female does not mean I should not work in sport. I love cricket, it is something that fuels my soul. I love seeing females go out there and hit the ball out the park or bowl so well that I see stumps flying. We live in an era where females are showing up in sport and I would like to empower our up and coming female players within our KZN set up to follow their dreams and their passion in cricket. Girls are owning their spaces on the field and we need to build on that.
WHY DOLPHINS?
KZN IS HOME, Kingsmead holds a special place in my heart and in my life. It is where my love for cricket started and KZN Cricket/Dolphins and KZN Women will always be home to me
I must have been about 7/8 years old and I was taken to a Benson and Hedges game at Kingsmead, it was the Orange Free State vs Port Natal match. I was sitting on the east end grass, there was NO East Stand. I was so excited and I was in total awe of this game taking place. Andrew Hudson played in this game. I was just a kid but I remember very clearly that one day I wanted to be in sport. I wanted to talk to these sports stars. I started watching games on tv after that. I always say, most girls dream of their wedding day, me I just dream of when I can meet my favorite sports star. I met quite a few already
ALL TIME FAVOURITE DOLPHIN PLAYER
Dinesha Devnarain. She is my friend, my hero, my role model. If you ever listen to her story of how she started and see where is she is now, you will understand why I say she is all that and more. She inspires me so much. I am so proud of Dinesha.
LESSONS LEARNT IN CRICKET ADMINISTRATION
As a female in a male dominated sport, it has not been easy. I had to buckle up, put my helmet on and grow thick skin. I had a fight on my hands and I was not going to give up, no matter how tough it got. From where I started as a scorer, to where I am now as Hollywoodbets KZN Women Manager, it may look easy but it was never that. I always had to work harder and fight for what I believe in and that is girls cricket. I had to be confident even when I didn’t look it. I had my days when I cried but then I got back up and continued my fight. My journey has made me stronger, it has made me more confident. Today I stand tall & proud as a representative of KZN in the 2020 Momentum Gsport awards as a Double Category Finalist & that is only because I had to believe in what I wanted to do and that is growing the following of women sports. My motto has always been, if you believe it then you can achieve it and my journey is proof of that.
FAVOURITE PART OF MY ROLE
Watching my team grow in leaps and bounds. Seeing individuals step up and work hard and make it into the National team. I still remember when I met Nondumiso Shangase in 2013 when we went to Cape Town on the CSA U19 Girls National Week and then I saw her play in her 1st game as a Momentum Protea Woman on 19 May in PMB against Pakistan Women. That was so special. I have shared some amazing journeys with these girls and it fills me with pride, to see how far they have come and I look forward to see where they are going.
FAVOURITE KINGSMEAD MEMORY
Favorite memory has to be when our Hollwoodbets KZN Women beat Free State in the opening game of our 2019/2020 campaign as part of the TOP 6. Our T20 went down to the last over and I was standing on the boundary, screaming.
ASPIRATIONS FOR THE NEXT 5 YEARS
My fight will always be for the girls to get as much attention, media coverage and game time as the boys do. We play just as well as the boys if not better at times. I would like for the girls to know that getting an education is just as important as you playing your sport. Just as the boys get scholarships so too should the girls. We need to show these girls they are appreciated and it is okay to get an education and be a successful sports person as well. I would like to see more programs for girls. We need to start at the bottom and that is how we grow the sport for girls. We need to empower them on every level. Challenge them to be better every day. 5 years time, I would like see all my dreams for girls cricket come to fruition.
I S S U E : 1 5 T H E I N N E R R I N G
In the stands
Marketing & Communications
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic we are unable to host our traditional awards dinners. Our players throughout the pipeline have worked tremendously hard this past season and we would like to reflect on these achievements. To make the biggest noise we possibly can in these unfamiliar times, we have teamed up with Hollywoodbets and some of our other partners, and created an Awards Week. This past week, the Hollywoodbets Bunny Delivery van has been hard at work to deliver awards to the various awardees from the Hollywoodbets Dolphins, KZN Coastal and KZN Inland. The video footage of each delivery along with the official announcement of the winners will be released this week on all social platforms as follows:
Monday KZN Coastal and KZN Inland awards
Tuesday Hollywoodbets Dolphins Fielder of the year and Hollywoodbets Dolphins Most Improved Player of the year
Wednesday KZNCU Presidential Award
Thursday Hollywoodbets Dolphins Four-Day Player of the year
Friday Hollywoodbets Dolphins Momentum One Day Cup Player of the year Saturday Hollywoodbets Dolphins Player of the year
Close of play
As we reach day 150 of lockdown you might have also lost your way a bit and the negativity around you might have infiltrated your daily thoughts.
I want to challenge you to renew your focus. Take stock of where you are and reset. Set yourself up for growth and success.
“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” - Socrates
