CAPE TOWN - A Newlands Cricket High School pupil may be the answer to the Proteas’ batting woes in the future following his brilliant innings that saw him score an impressive 230 not out off just 106 balls.
Moosa Gabriels kept the scoreboard ticking when he helped his team finish with 334/4 off 35 overs.
This proved to be a tough ask for their opponents, Table View High School which only managed 52 all out.
Speaking to the Cape Times on Tuesday the 14-year-old Grade 8 pupil from Vanguard Estate said his love for cricket started at the age of five.
Then he was a member at the Ottomans Cricket Club in Surrey Estate.
He has since been playing cricket for nine years and now credits former Proteas batsman, Hasim Amla for inspiration.
”I would love to represent Western Province and the Proteas in the future but if it is not meant to be, I will continue working towards becoming an accountant after school.
“As a batsman my job is to score runs for the team and when I am in the middle I just try to do the best that I can.
“I play to my strengths and play every ball on merit and just back myself,” he said.
Moosa is also a top learner at school and scores 100% in Mathematics regularly.
He said that he focused hard and tried to compete ensuring that he stays at the top of his class.
For him preparation is key and that’s why he practices four or five days a week at Abu Turab Sports Centre.
His coach, Xolani Lallo, described him as a motivated, intelligent and calculated attacking batsman with a positive attitude and the ability to relate and reflect with his teammates.
“I sincerely believe that he has the talent and potential to make it if he is given the opportunity to do so,” said Lallo.
His brother, Yusuf Gabriels said he knew Moosa was serious about the sport and has been supporting him since day one.
He said that it was important for the batting ace to have a balanced life, “just as he is excelling in sports, he should excel in academics''.
He said his brother had already overcome many obstacles and this made them believe that a glorious future awaited Moosa.
Cape Times