Assupol Tuks aims to end their 100 years of cricket excellence celebration by winning the Red Bull Campus Cricket Tournament for the third time.
Since the tournament's inception in 2012 Assupol Tuks has been victorious on two occasions. They did so in 2014 and 2015. In 2016 they lost out in the semifinal.
The T20-tournament will be played in Dubai from 27 October to 3 November. The universities of eight countries are participating.
It is interesting to note that four of the Assupol Tuks players who in the past were in action during the Red Bull Tournament are currently in the Protea squad. They are Theunis de Bruyn, Heinrich Klaassen, Aiden Markram and Lungi Ngidi.
Assupol Tuks has undoubtedly established itself as one of South Africa's top cricket clubs. Earlier this month they won the Varsity Tournament for the fourth time in five years. They are also multiple winners of the National Club Championships as well as the USSA Tournament.
The team's head coach, Kruger van Wyk, who has represented New Zealand in nine tests, however, will never allow for complacency to set in.
"It is always great to win trophies and tournaments locally, but we need to make a difference internationally. The real challenge for any young player should be to become genuinely a cricketing great. That entails dominating at the highest level for some time. Players should also realise they got to make the most of every opportunity."
Unfortunately due to other cricketing commitments, Assupol Tuks's "Captain Fantastic" Neil Brand won't be able to lead his "troops" in Dubai. Over the last two seasons, he has led the team to two Varsity Titles being the player of the tournament on both occasions.
Even though he will be missed Assupol Tuks is in the position of having enough talented players who can step up when it matters.
Donovan Ferreira who last week got a wild card call-up to play for the Tshwane Spartans in the Mzansi Super League will be one of the players to watch in Dubai. During the Varsity Tournament, he scored 134 runs at an average of 44.7. It included a knock of a knock of 75 off 35 balls.
Assupol Tuks Cricketer of the Year, Ruben Trumpelmann, is without a doubt one of the most exciting upcoming bowlers. He took 13 wickets at an average of 10.1 at the Varsity Tournament. Ruan de Swardt is developing into a reliable allrounder; Jiveshan Pillay is a coolheaded batsman; Sean Murray-Gilson an exciting bowling prospect. So the list of potential match-winners goes on.
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