Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Evergreen Lifestyle backs Proteas veterans
AFTER a hugely successful inaugural competition in Sydney, Australia in 2018, the second Over-50s Cricket World Cup tournament is being held in Cape Town from March 10–24, 2020. Organised by the Veterans Cricket Association of South Africa (VCASA), an ancillary member of Cricket South Africa (CSA), Evergreen is proud to be the headline sponsor of this world-class event, which puts a new spin on the concept of active aging – the philosophy behind the retirement brand’s lifestyle villages.
Twelve teams will vie for top honours in the 2020 tournament, including defending champions Australia who will face Zimbabwe in their opening game at Claremont Cricket Club. The South African squad, which opens its campaign against Wales at Cape Town Cricket Club on March 11, is coached by legendary fast bowler Allan Donald and captained by former EP and Proteas all-rounder, Dave Callaghan.
Matches will be played at prominent cricket clubs and schools around the city, as well as in Langa, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. The packed schedule will see each team play a minimum of seven 45-over games ahead of the final at PPC Newlands on March 24, 2020. All matches will be live streamed and admission is free.
Tournament ambassadors
VCASA has appointed South African cricketing legends Barry Richards, Mike Proctor, Graeme Pollock, Dave Richardson, Omar Henry and Peter Kirsten as tournament ambassadors. All six are strongly in favour of the expansion of veterans’ cricket worldwide.
“Once a cricketer always a cricketer. The tournament is a fantastic initiative with which I am delighted to be associated,” said Graeme Pollock.
Dave Richardson added, “Cricket is a game for all ages and I look forward to watching as many games as possible and rekindling some old acquaintances.”
An outstanding partnership
Veterans cricket is played in many of the world’s strong cricketing nations and Evergreen Lifestyle has teamed with the Veterans Cricket Association of South Africa (VCASA) to support the establishment of a veterans’ league in the hopes of encouraging players to stay in the game longer in order to strengthen the South African cricketing system.
Arthur Case, Evergreen Lifestyle’s brand ambassador explained that the decision to sponsor the Over-50s Cricket World Cup was an easy one. “Evergreen promotes active aging, wellness and vitality in our retirement villages, making the partnership with veterans cricket an excellent one. Being in a position to help bring the second Over-50s World Cup Cricket tournament to Cape Town is a wonderful opportunity and one that Evergreen is proud to be associated with.”
SA fields strong veterans squad
The South African squad will find itself up against strong international teams who have been playing at the highest level of veterans’ cricket for years – Pakistan, for example, has been in the veterans’ game for over 20 years. But, with no less than five ex-Proteas players in the team, and the remaining spots being taken by experienced first class and provincial players, several of whom were not allowed to compete for national honours when playing in their prime, the SA squad is ready to take on the world’s best veteran sides.
Captain Dave Callaghan, who played 29 ODIs for South Africa and will be best remembered for his astonishing 169 not out off just 143 balls after opening the batting against New Zealand at Centurion Park in 1994, is incredibly excited about the upcoming competition and his side’s chances.
“It’s a fantastic honour to be playing for an official South African team again,” he said. “None of us imagined we would get this chance, especially a World Cup. We have a strong team on paper and I can assure you that the boys are already putting in extra work to ensure a good performance.”
The full SA line-up, which is coached by legendary South African fast bowler Alan Donald, includes
■ Louis Koen (ex-Proteas),
■ Alan Dawson (ex-Proteas),
■ Pieter Strydom (ex-Proteas),
■ Kenny Jackson,
■ Dave Holgate,
■ Anwell Newman,
■ Neil Fusedale,
■ Rodney Malamba,
■ Mlungisi ‘Lefty’ Ngece,
■ Dave Duncan,
■ Bruce Wilson,
■ Warne Rippon,
■ Brad Player,
■ Nazeem White and
■ Henry Williams (ex-Proteas).
The team is managed by Roy Meeser.
For more information, see www.vcasa.co.za