​Three first-years in the Steinhoff Maties Cricket team made a big impression at the recent Varsity Cricket tournament in Potchefstroom.

Brandon Glover, Kyle Simmonds and Soyisile Pono delivered some impressive performances and the trio were selected for the Future Cup team. Wicketkeeper Pono also received the award for Catch of the Tournament. Glover and Simmonds are bowlers.

According to Simmonds, a Management Sciences student, he learnt some valuable lessons at the Varsity Cricket tournament, for example that a game of cricket is never won until the final ball is bowled.

"And that no matter how good a player you get to be one day, you will never be bigger than the game of cricket."

For Glover, an Accounting student, playing at the Varsity Cricket tournament was an awesome experience.

"I learnt that you have to be really disciplined with your line and length. It also showed me how quickly the game could change within those 40 overs, and how you had to continually concentrate whilst playing. There is no place for complacency."

Pono, a BA Humanities student, said that he had learnt never to underestimate his opponents and to play every game as if it were his last.

His experience at Maties Cricket has been very positive so far.

"The environment is very professional, the facilities are great and we have quality coaching staff. I feel I've come to the right place to grow as a cricketer.

"I want to improve and make the most of my opportunities here at Stellenbosch. I want to be a consistent performer and contribute to the team's success. The standard of cricket at Stellenbosch University is very high and there are so many good players. This is exactly what I wanted because now I know I have to work hard and stay dedicated to the sport in order to keep on improving," says Pono.

Over the past few years, Maties Cricket has established itself as one of the prominent cricket clubs in the country.

"I came to Maties for various reasons. It is a beautiful campus and the fact that it is a varsity town means the vibe here is special. Maties offer me the perfect balance of taking my cricket career forward and getting a good degree at the same time," says Glover.

Simmonds would like to make new friends and enjoy the full experience of varsity life on and off the sports field.

"I hope to leave behind a legacy as a team that can be followed by future Maties to come," he adds.

Simmonds would like to represent his country in all three formats of the game one day while Glover's long-term goal is also to play for the Proteas.

"I would like to first get into the Boland side and take it from there," adds Glover.​

Photo credit from left to right:

Kyle Simmonds. ​Photographer: Christiaan Kotze/​SASPA

Soyisile Pono: Photographer: Christiaan Kotze / SASPA​

​​Brandon Glover​​. Photographer: Mario van de Wall/SASPA​