THE INNER RING

SEPTEMBER 20 20 | FIRST INNINGS

Dear family

Wow! Time flies. September already…

Powerplay The lockdown has been extremely difficult for many people who have lost loved ones, jobs and businesses, our macro economy has taken a massive hit and some sectors will probably experience the aftermath of the pandemic for a long long time.

Fortunately it also produced some unintended positives. Nature got an opportunity to get a well deserved rest, we got to spend some valuable time with immediate family members, we actually got to know our neighbours, made various financial savings including fuel and “entertainment”, and some even made very significant ones if they missed the deadlines on buying items like cigarettes or alcohol.

From a perspective the most significant positive in my opinion has been the fact that our match and practice facilities have been given a first proper break in many years and due to less distractions and limited national team duties, the Hollywoodbets Dolphins team has probably had one of their best, most focused pre-seasons in recent times.

This period has also presented us all with the perfect opportunity to take stock of where we are in terms of our goals and dreams and to simply not take things for granted. As part of the unintended perks of my job, during the past week I had the opportunity to watch a intersquad match at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead. The first live sporting action for me since the Sharks beat the Stormers at Jonsson Kings Park nearly six months ago.

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It was magic to just sit and watch some incredible cricketers plying their trade, bowlers toiling away, batsmen feeling bat on ball and fielders energised by the opportunity of being back in action on their beloved Kingsmead. It was magic to just sit there in the North stand, almost directly in line with the pitch, to feel the sun, and to take in the stadium and all its might. It was magic to have VIP tickets to this theatre of dreams and to reminisce of all the iconic players and captivating matches that have taken place at this special venue.

My wish for all of us is to enjoy these moments as special gifts, remove the sense of entitlement which has become so deeply rooted in our veins and then to reignite our passion for cricket, sport, our beautiful country, and the wonderful dream of a harmonious rainbow nation.

Inside the boundary rope This week I continue to share some profiles of the people behind the scenes, who are walking with me on this incredible journey. This profiles include our KZN Coastal and KZN Inland Coaching Managers, as well as our HR & Payroll Officer. Trust you will find these profiles interesting.

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FULL NAME Desigan Reddy TITLE Coaching Manager - KZN Coastal DATE OF BIRTH 13 December 1979 HIGH SCHOOL Southlands Secondary School PRIMARY SCHOOL Coedmore Primary School

WHY CRICKET?

Cricket has been a passion of mine since childhood. My dad played the game and going to practices and games with him drove my passion for cricket. The idea of being an individual performing in a team environment was always intriguing to me. Watching the comradery, friendships and bonds created by being in a team sport was a highlight for me in my younger days.

The magic moment of realization for me of wanting to work in the game was actually born out of playing the game and calling Kingsmead HOME. Many moments of my playing career, from the times of practicing daily with cricket legends in , , , , Andre Hudson and Dale Benkenstein to the surreal day that I made my debut for the Province. This buildup of great memories and many more lead me to believe that working in the game and sharing my knowledge and experience could help young talent realize their dreams in this game.

WHY DOLPHINS? That’s easy- As a player I have represented KZN for a number of years in the various provincial age group teams. I went on to play Kzn Provincial Under 19, was in the KZN Academy and featured both in the Kzn Senior Provincial Team and the Dolphins Team. My passion for the Dolphins over the years that I played was always growing and I could see no better way to give back to cricket than being involved with the Dolphins and help growing young talent realise their hopes and dreams in the game of cricket. My roots have always been strong in the Dolphins Brand and I will always be a Kzn boy.

LESSONS LEARNT IN CRICKET ADMINISTRATION I think that learning in life is a constant and here at the Dolphins I believe that there has been a constant reinforcement of your values as a person. Honesty, Integrity, Humility, Caring and Sharing. I am a fairly outspoken person and I have always believed that you stand for what you believe is right. Within my job here at the Dolphins I strive on a daily basis to ensure that my values as a human stays intact and that I add value to the Dolphins and the game of cricket every single day. Working with people that trust me with their careers keeps me on my toes to constantly stay focused on their growth and I have learnt through my job that SELF REFLECTION is a major asset when striving to do your best. I have learnt to work well in a pressured environment and that staying CALM is a massive positive.

ALL TIME FAVOURITE DOLPHIN PLAYER Malcolm Marshall: What a legend. Unbelievable fire and determination. Amazing skills and always wore his heart on his sleeve. Will never in my life forget a game I watched were he broke his hand batting and still came out to bowl in the next inning. If I’m not mistaken winning us the game with a 5fer. This was a man who commanded respect merely with his presence.

FAVOURITE PART OF MY ROLE Being able to engage with coaches and players about the game and more importantly working with both coaches and players in assisting them to grow further. Helping people be the best they can is a major passion for me. I simply love seeing success stories unfold and being given the privilege to be involved with these coaches and players in their walk through their careers is an absolute honour.

FAVOURITE KINGSMEAD MEMORY My Debut game against . Opening the bowling from the Old Fort End.

ASPIRATIONS FOR THE NEXT 5 YEARS I still believe that I have a lot to offer from a coaching capacity and would like to see myself transition into roles as a coaching consultant at the professional level. Although having aspirations to continue coaching in whatever capacity at a higher level I would still want to play a massive role in upskilling and mentoring coaches for the future. Maybe if the opportunity arises at CSA or Internationally to fulfil my aspirations, then I would definitely look to take that road.

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FULL NAME Yashveer Singh TITLE Coaching Manager - Inland DATE OF BIRTH 14 February 199 HIGH SCHOOL Raisethorpe High School PRIMARY SCHOOL Deccan Primary School

WHY CRICKET? As a youngster, born and raised in Shakaskraal, which is just before Stanger on the North Coast, the exposure to cricket was minimal. At a later stage, having moved to Pietermaritzburg and having an uncle who was at the time the President of KwaZulu-Natal Inland Primary Schools Cricket and a true servant of the game, exposed to me to the beautiful game on so many different levels, it was a culture shock of sorts which would then become a lifestyle. Being involved as a scorer, umpire, team manager and coach in that order respectively from my teenage years to an administrator today, the ability to ensure growth and life changing situations in the people and players around me will forever keep me involved in this beautiful game. The mannerisms and teachings which our beautiful game offers has been a driving force of my passion for this sport. I lead simply by the motto, ‘Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life’.

My uncle, Larry Hemchand, has been an inspiration to myself and many young aspiring cricketers in the community from which I come, his service to KwaZulu-Natal Cricket at Club, School and Provincial Level has been 2nd to none. The tireless work spent by himself and so many others in the community was rewarded by ensuring that players who were exposed to cricket had an avenue in life, cricket being a way to a better life. It is being around these men and seeing the rewards of changing others that has drawn me towards cricket, towards ensuring excellence in our sport and ensuring that players have an avenue to better themselves with our sport. The differences that they have made in players lives have instilled in me the desire to make a positive difference in others.

WHY DOLPHINS? The Dolphins is HOME. I have begun my career at the Dolphins and am eternally grateful for the opportunity afforded in my various roles prior to my current position which has indeed molded the manner in which I go about my work today. The direction in which the Dolphins have taken over the past 3 years has been phenomenal, on and off the field, it is with great honor that I have been a part of this direction and the way forward.

LESSONS LEARNT IN CRICKET ADMINISTRATION During my 4 years with the Dolphins, I have been able to grow my personal toolkit of skills, sharing this toolkit with others has taught me that we are in a constant learning phase in everything that we do in our sport. The constant changes ensure that we have to stay on top and share with as many people as we can. Simply coined by the Dolphins latest slogan - #OurUnityIsOurStrengthAndDiversityIsOurPower.

FAVOURITE PART OF MY ROLE Interacting with people from all parts and being able to assist where I can.

ALL TIME FAVOURITE DOLPHIN PLAYER Yusuf Abdulla – He has defied all odds to be successful for the Dolphins and various other teams that he has represented.

ALL TIME FAVOURITE DOLPHIN Keshav Maharaj – The flair that he has brought to Dolphins Cricket as a leader has brought excitement to the brand of cricket that we are now playing.

FAVOURITE KINGSMEAD MEMORY India vs. Pakistan – The Bowl Out

ASPIRATIONS FOR THE NEXT 5 YEARS Over the next 5 years, I would have liked to have made my mark or impact on KZN Cricket and its wider community in the best possible manner. I would like to see myself having grown in my position and in a better place to assist more players and people in general.

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FULL NAME Hayley Gunkel DATE OF BIRTH 04 March 1971 TITLE HR & Payroll Officer HIGH SCHOOL Sunnydale Senior Secondary, Eshowe PRIMARY SCHOOL Little Flower Primary, Eshowe

WHY CRICKET? When I joined the Cricket Union I didn’t know much about the game but grew to love it as I got a better understanding of the game. Having come from a banking background and then working for an Accounting firm for 10 years, I would say my previous jobs were a little more conservative and this was a completely new experience for me.

I remember my 1st International experience was the CLT20 in 2010 and then we had the soccer World Cup and hosted the Australians at the stadium. There were tents set up in the middle of the stadium on the field. That was just a wow moment for me, the atmosphere in the stadium was unbelievable. There were many more magical moments after that which made me even more passionate about the game.

WHY DOLPHINS? I love the resilience of the Dolphins team and their ability to bounce back from defeat. I have also got to know most of the players through my interactions with them and I couldn’t think of a better team to support and be a part of. I have seen young play ers, namely Andile Phehlukwayo come in from Academy level and show case their skills on the field and quickly progress from Semi pro to Franchise level and certainly become one of the most talented Proteas players.

ALL TIME FAVOURITE DOLPHIN PLAYER Morne van Wyk – his energy on the field and I think he was one of the best keepers. Imraan Tahir – I love the way he gets so excited when he takes a wicket and blows kisses to his wife…that for me is just so special.

ALL TIME FAVOURITE DOLPHIN CAPTAIN Khaya Zondo – He is a passionate player and comes with years of experience and skills.

LESSONS LEARNT IN CRICKET ADMINISTRATION My journey has been an exciting and sometimes challenging one. Dealing with diversity and people from all different cultural backgrounds has taught me to take time to listen to the opinions of others and to show compassion towards others. The one thing I’ve learned is that sometimes people just want an ear to listen, even if we cannot always meet their needs its important to listen. My 10 years’ service, began in the Finance department as a Bookkeeper and I later progressed to the Payroll and HR Officer for both Coastal and Inland as well as the Dolphins team. During this period I was able to complete my diploma in Financial Accounting as well as my Payroll diploma.

FAVOURITE PART OF MY ROLE The HR role is fitting for me as I love interacting with people and helping people. Everyday we’re given a chance to create meaningful and lasting relationships, learn new things, live our passions and solve complex problems that can impact the lives of the people around us.

FAVOURITE KINGSMEAD MEMORY I have been privileged to enjoy many exciting fun filled moments at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead. The atmosphere is so electric when you have a jam packed stadium filled with some of the most talented players in the world and the sound of cheers and excitement when sixes are flying all over the stadium makes for one of the most memorable experiences of my life.

ASPIRATIONS FOR THE NEXT 5 YEARS 1. My immediate goal and aspiration is becoming an HR Manager and to be the ultimate KZN Cricket Union ambassador through living out and promoting the values of the organisation; 2. To demonstrate our philosophy of keeping our workplace fair and safe – free from all from all forms of discrimination and harassment. 3. To engage the very best of my personality and demonstrate enthusiasm and passion in all that I do, so that we all create memorable, positive and fun experiences for all. 4. To identify challenges, create ways to address the challenges and devise action plans proactively to improve employee engagement. 5. To ensure that I continuously strive to update my knowledge, skills and experiences.

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In the stands Marketing & Communications It has been an exciting week with the KZN Cricket Awards Week. The awardees and our fans thoroughly enjoyed the different take on the awards presentation. Thank you to our incredible partners at Hollywoodbets, Fourways Airconditioning, Hirsch’s, Willowton Group, East Coast Radio, Sorbet Man Gateway, PVM, Umthunzi Hotel and Conference and The George Umhlanga for the incredible prizes. You may watch all the videos by following the links below:

https://youtu.be/DMiF8D202h8 KZN Cricket Coastal Awards https://youtu.be/fhfReK4cyw0 KZN Cricket Inland Awards https://youtu.be/CoZoVXAbYWA KZN Presidential Awards https://youtu.be/pljJ3vCmthY Fielder of the Year Award – Marques Ackerman https://youtu.be/P7craDDPWyw Most improved player of the Year – Daryn Dupavillon https://youtu.be/RLKL52L-Bo8 4-Day Player of the Year – Prenelan Subrayen https://youtu.be/ZfudMjwR_to Momentume One Day Cup Player of the Year – Keshav Maharaj https://youtu.be/uo3Nhg1my7E Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year – Grant Roelofsen

Close of play “Sometimes you will not understand the value of a moment until it becomes a memory”

Stay safe everyone, enjoy life and keep making those beautiful memories along the way!

Regards,