Blind cricket players on the ball

young and up-and-coming cricketers from the League of Friends of the Blind (Lofob) will be representing the Western Province at the National Blind Cricket T20 tournament.

It began on Saturday and continues until today in Pretoria.

The players participating are blind or visually impaired and come from various provinces.

Two young players on the Western Province team had joined the rehabilitation and sport programme at Lofob only recently, after they were identified with visual impairment.

Siphe Calata, 19, the youngest member of the team, joined the programme in February after an unsuccessful attempt to rectify his eyesight.

Calata has made exceptional progress after struggling to come to terms with his inability to see.

He has also joined night school as he is determined to complete his high school education.

As he worked on his goals, he was introduced to playing blind cricket.

Calata realised the passion he had for the game through his positive spirit and enthusiasm.

He became a notable player during the trials and was selected to represent Western Province.

“It gives us great joy to enable blind youth and adults to do the things they dare to dream,” said Heidi Volkwijn, Lofob manager of services to youth and adults.

Other Lofob members include the coach, Israel Hattingh (visually impaired), captain Marlin Kolbe (blind), Sergil January, Mogammat de Jong and John van Schalkwyk.

“The lives of these individuals are constantly being challenged and will also be changed for the better,” the organisation said in a statement.

“This is a significant opportunity that does not occur often and Lofob is feeling confident that their team players will perform excellently in the tournament.”

It gives us great joy to enable blind youth and adults to do the things they dare to dream

Heidi Volkwijn Lofob manager of services to youth and adults