Sipahli prepares for his big break
FORMER Chatsworth resident Keeghan Sipahli is eagerly awaiting his opportunity to represent South Africa at the 10th Indoor Cricket World Cup which will take place in Dubai in September.
Sipahli, 29, a Chartered Accountant, who has been playing the sport since childhood, was selected after performing well at inter-provincial tournaments held in 2015 and 2016. “I was selected into the preliminary SA squad. Over the course of nine months and multiple training camps, the squad was reduced to 12 players,who will represent the country at the world cup,” he said.
Sipahli told POST, he feels immensely proud of himself to be representing the country. “When I was a child, my grandfather would see me with the cricket bat in hand and ask: ‘When are you going to play for South Africa. It fills me with a sense of satisfaction knowing I have made him, my parents and my girlfriend proud,” he said.
Sipahli, started playing cricket with Colita Cricket Club then moved on to Chatsworth United in 2008.
“I moved to Johannesburg in 2013 and was introduced to indoor cricket by my uncle, Shar Sipahli. At first I played socially then I moved into higher leagues at the Sandton Acton Sports Centre and in 2014, I started playing for the Sandton Sharks. Some good performances led to selection for the Central Gauteng Indoor Cricket Team,” he said,
Sipahli, who also plays soccer at FLTY United, has his Midlands colours for Hockey. Besides following a strict diet, he is preparing for the World Cup by training at 5.30 each morning and ending his day with cricket practice from 6.30 until 10pm.
Sipahli wil be funding his trip on his own, he told POST, his favourite cricket player was India captain Virat Kohli.
“He is one of the best players of his generation and he is a supremely talented cricketer and a captain, who leads from the front,” he said. The World Cup kicks off from September 16 until 23 and will see 10 teams, the likes of Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, England, India, Sri Lanka, UAE (Dubai) and Singapore will battle for as World Cup Champions.
Australia are favourites ahead of the tournament, however, Sipahli believes South Africa has a good chance of upsetting the current Champions.