CSA achievers make club proud

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Star player Shandre Fritz

Xolani Koyana

RAVENSMEAD has produced two of the country’s biggest cricket stars – Vernon Philander and Shandre Fritz. And Philander, 26, who has been a sensation for the national cricket team since being selected to do Test duty for the Proteas last year, cleaned up at the Cricket SA Awards on Wednesday.

He took home the coveted prize of SA Cricketer of the Year, CSA Fans’ Cricketer of the Year and Test Cricketer of the Year, while Fritz, 26, was named Women’s Cricketer of the Year.

Both hail from the Tygerberg Cricket Club which has produced some of the best professional cricketers in the country. Philander has been there from a young age while Fritz has played there for two years. “It is very exciting. It is nice to have finally won it,” Fritz told the Cape Times yesterday.

The former Bellville Technical High School pupil, a qualified teacher, played competitively at school before joining the Western Province U19 team at 15. She joined the SA Women’s cricket team in 2003 at the age of 18.

A number of top cricketers hail from the club, including Titans bowler Alfonso Thomas, former Western Province great Neville Booysen and the Cobras’ Denver Carolus.

Proteas sensation Vernon Philander

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Club chairman Johannes Adams said the club honoured the pair at an award ceremony last Saturday for their achievements over the last year. “We need these role models for our younger generation. We just hope that the club will also benefit financially,” he said.

Ravensmead Secondary School principal Joseph Bouman said he had always known Philander would be a national cricketer.

“He has always been a great player. We are very proud of him.

“What I really appreciate is the fact that he still lives in the area. We are really grateful that he still comes around to speak to the children. Our children need role models like him,” Bouman said.

He said Philander’s younger brother had received the most promising cricketer award.

xolani.koyana@inl.co.za