#Assupol TuksCricket: Head coach Kruger van Wyk supports the idea of play “behind closed doors”

Posted on May 13, 2020

Coaching cricket and strategising how to beat the best has become part of parcel of the Assupol TuksCricket head coach Kruger van Wyk's life. 

It is what he does. He is quite good at it. Last year Assupol Tuks won the Varsity Tournament for the fourth time in five years. As big a highlight was winning the International Red Bull Campus Tournament. Earlier this season the team won the Northerns Premier League. They were set to also contest the provincial T20-final. But all of it has come to an end. At least for now. 

South Africa is in lockdown for 47 days due to the coronavirus pandemic. A direct consequence of this is that Van Wyk could not oversee one ball being bowled during training or even a match. If someone had told him it would happen, he would have possibly found the idea to be ludicrous. 

Frustration spelt in capital letters has become a reality, but with it, there is also a new realisation. 

"You don't know what you have until it is gone. I think everyone involved in any sport sort of took it for granted that there would always be an opportunity to live out our passion on the field and courts. Now we know there are not. The positive that might come from this when things return to normality is an appreciation for every opportunity," Van Wyk explained. 

The Assupol Tuks coach believes that sport in South Africa should be allowed to resume sooner rather than later. 

"Don't get me wrong. I am not apathetic to the seriousness of the pandemic. People's lives do matter. But people also need sport. I realised this over the last few weeks. For fans, it is about entertainment and for players about their sanity."

There has been a lot of talk about allowing games to be played "behind closed doors". The Assupol Tuks coach supports the idea. He, however, emphasised it is going to take careful planning to do so. 

"Since the lockdown began, our players followed a carefully planned training program at home, but it does mean they are match fit. It will take at least five weeks for them to be ready to play. There is a real risk of players being injured when things are rushed."

The reality is that as far as the resumption of sport in South Africa is concerned is that no one seems to have any answers. According to Van Wyk, a decision will be made in August as to the Varsity Tournament. He is hoping they will get the go-ahead.

In the meanwhile, Van Wyk's advice to everyone involved in sport is to give up on their dreams.

"Someone explained to me that when you in a river and the current take you, it is important not to fight it. Go with the flow. At some stage, you will find yourself back in calmer waters. The same will happen in sport."

 

- Author Wilhelm de Swardt

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