From cricketer to analyst, Ex-east Londoner Romano Ramoo is living his dream
Former SA U20, Border and WP player now works for Cape Cobras
Doing what you love and being paid for it is the biggest motivation for professional sports stars.
But following close behind comes being involved in the sport after retirement, and of course being paid for it.
Romano Ramoo achieved both goals. The first as a professional cricketer, playing for Border, then SA U20 and finally for Western Province.
The “sportsman at heart” said as with every player, no matter the longevity, “hanging up the boots will happen, sooner or later”.
Ramoo was born in East London and attended Selborne High School.
He was, by his own admission, more of an all-round sportsman than an academic, but he got a decent enough matric that got him accepted at Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha in 2006, where he played cricket and hockey.
His lucky break came when a talent scout for the University of Western Cape spotted him, which led to a full scholarship, and saw him relocating to Cape Town.
“Aside from a degree my focus was on cricket.
“I was selected for Western Province and Cape Cobras sides, which had a few Springboks, including Thami Solekelo, a wicketkeeper, and Dane Piedt, mainly a bowler.
“Both of them are in the Proteas side that is now touring New Zealand and are scheduled to play two Tests.”
After graduating, and the end of his funding in 2010, Ramoo returned to his hometown and was contracted to Border, where he played until 2014.
“I lost my contract, but as one door closes another opens.
“I contacted my alma mater, offering to play for the university, but the exchange was the university paying for my postgraduate degrees — honours and master’s in information systems.
“I used the degrees to research everything I could discover on the relatively new role of a team performance analyst, which was a springboard into a career.”
In 2020, he had another “lucky” break.
“The more I practise, the luckier I get — that is a famous quote by Gary Player concerning his golf, and he knew how to practise.
“I was spotted by a person who had strong connections with the Middlesex Cricket Club in England.
“The team’s home base is Lord’s, in London.
“I was invited to spend time with them learning the role of an analyst.
“But before I could take up the offer, I was bowled out by Covid-19 and the travel restrictions robbed me of the opportunity.” It wasn’t all bad news though, because once Covid-19 waned, he got to Lord’s.
However, having lost the Middlesex offer he was contacted by former Springbok batter Ashwell Prince, who was managing the Cape Cobras in the Western Cape, and signed up as a performance analyst, a dream come true.
He said the analyst’s role, working closely with coaches and not so much with players, was growing.
“I love sport, but cricket more than anything.
“Being in and around the working environment as a contracted cricket player, junior business analyst and cricket performance analyst has helped me build a career, one that I hope lasts a very long time, but that will depend on my own efforts and my value to the team.”
He played in 34 first-class, 36 List A, and 10 Twenty20 matches from 2008 to 2014.