Cricket at MAP 2009

By A. Matshiya

Ordinarily a school with out a cricket pitch would not offer cricket. However, it is the Maru-a -Pula way not to stop at the first hurdle. The school has nets and hence much time is spent on batting practice. As it happens batting is our strength and that has served us well against local schools.

This season the U15 team took part in two tournaments and a festival. The first of the tournaments was the Botswana championship which was held at The Learning Centre School in early October. Maru-a-Pula was victorious in all their matches in the round robin event which involved five schools. The U15 team was captained by Dilan Sridan, who is an all rounder and a shrewd strategist! The team which consisted of more than half form ones, was a young one but full of talent and energyl. Huzaifa Babar was a reliable simmer(fast bowler) and pinch-hitter all season. At the Learning Centre the team had the services of two veterans in the form of Sundesh Perreira and Jathukulan. The two batted well and set good platforms from which the juniors could build.

The following weekend the team travelled to Francistown for an international tournament involving Botswana and Zimbabwe schools at John Mackenzie School. Our first game was against Petra school from Bulawayo. Petra proved too strong for our young team despite having a girl in their team and Govind Gopikumar putting up a brave 45 runs. However after that setback MAP recovered and went on to win The Plate following victories against GIS and Crescent school.

The festival in Mafikeng marked the third weekend of cricket on the trot for the team. Fatigue was setting in and this showed in the field. The boys were sluggish and dropped crucial catches. The team lost to Issa and Mafikeng High but beat Sol Plaatjie. Govind’s confidence was at its peak after the previous week’s antics. He stood out once more and was the undisputed prize batsman for our team.

It was a short but intense season that saw our cricket grow and our cricketers mature. Next year should see another good season of cricket for Dilan and the boys.

SPORTS RAISON D’ETRE

Eish! Its now time for a break from the exhausting term of sports, and I can bet some of you are are thinking, “I am never doing squash!” Whatever the case may be, I still ponder why sports still exists, and nothing crosses the back of my mind either than entertainment and health. Having said that, my challenge to you this term is to engage yourself in to sports, try to keep healthy while enjoying. Clearly there’s no better experience than that. So draw the line between fit and fat.

SPRINGBOKS

Its funny how the Botswana National Rugby team, the Vultures is growing and gradually finding a spot in the hearts of the locals. Well to put things into perspective, we are a small fish in a big pond as compared to the world. However this on its own is a silver lining for future success because our neighbours South Africa are the champions of the world! Hello..? Inspiration is at our door! The springboks are undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with, and so should this should serve as a hall mark for our local senior team. This is like saying in soccer terms that Kaka or Christiano Ronaldo is a border away! So let us take pride and support local rugby who knows we might be soon swimming with the big fishes. First stop the conquerors!

EAGLES

From me it’s nothing but praise. The Eagles (MAP senior basketball team) have for 18 years now proven to be the undisputed national champions. Honestly, eighteen years screams out loud enough for their foes to back down! Now one thing that fascinates me is the way they have humbled themselves and focused on nothing but defending their shining record from being broken. Thumbs up to them and most importantly the working staff that has contributed to this illustrious performance. Maruapula School is more than humbled by their courage and steadfast approach to the game. Well done gents!

BISA REPRESENTATIVES

Now the basketball season ended on a general high for both junior and senior categories. Among these well nurtured athletes, Botswana Integrated Sports Association (BISA) had set eyes on few to represent the country in the annual COSASA games that were held in Swaziland. Their names Tefo Morewane, Kwena Moloto, Lisa Nawa and Nomfuneka; all under 17. The under 17 sides played well but were unfortunate not to be victors on both the girls and the boys sides. The boys walked away with a third price trophy while their female counterparts came position two.

SPORTS INJURIES

EMERGENCY CALL by T. Kasongo

From the fans perspective, it only suits me to say sports is my main source of entertainment and that whatever the stakes my team has to always come on top and so gthe bets always have to be fruitful. Meanwhile we tend to forget that these athletes are people of flesh and blood who are prone to injuries, needless to say, they are not machines who run on oil and are serviced once in who knows when. The pain and the agony endued by these guys who put their bodies on the line is also a part of me. Now coming back to earth (MAP) its hightime we improved our First Aid , I mean a possible solution may be to start up with those empty first aid boxes or possibly keep the school clinic open during home games. As taxing as it may seem, it may however prevent further damage so minimising potential far reaching repercussions. Seriously, how does the first aid help if you have a broken leg in the same manner as Arsenals eduardo da Silva or if the player fell to the ground and had a seizure! My quest is little but it is a cry that athletes in our campus have been weeping for so long, and so I plead for help.

WORLD TENNIS

Now when the world hears “tennis”, everybody thinks Rafael and Roger and I don’t blame them. These two truly stood head and shoulders above their counterpads. However don’t turn a blind eye to the others that are slowly rising to the top, the likes of Djokovic , Andy Murray and Del Potro. Now the attention has lately being centred on Djokovic and Federer who gave the world a different dimention to the sport. The court battle saw Andy Murray walking away with US open Trophy but in spite of his wins, the duel promises to be a future classic. Believe you me these athletes displayed true meetle and there is absolutely no doubt that the world will witness many more talented players looming into the big screen. As tennis enthusiats lets look down to the tennis players in MAP, they have what it takes. Andy Murray did not come from Space! Now what are we waiting for, bring those trophies back where they belong!

RUGBY SHAME

DEAN RICHARDS: Power corrupts but absolute power corrupts absolutely. This has been such an ordeal for the ex-England Rugby star and banished director of the Harlequins Rugby Club icon Dean Richards. He has been banned for three years from world rugby for instigating a cheat on a high octane game that saw Williams(player in the team) fake a cut on the lip, all in the hope that a benched player who was ineligible to play be re-introduced. Now speaking of sports and the fabrication done. One may ask, is it worth the risk? The communication of this incident is that winning is more important than cherishing the games essence, no matter the stakes. If we had a wall of shame in this site then Dean would certainly been in the centre. Palookas! Serves him right.