APPRECIATING UWC’S HOLISTIC SUPPORT

BY ZAAHIER ADAMS

WAYLINN BOSCH AND LEAH JONES are third-year Bachelor of Law (LLB) students at the University of Western Cape and also integral members of the UWC Women’s Cricket First XI team, who only experienced on-site campus lectures this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

BOSCH HAS BEEN A PART of the leadership group in women’s cricket at UWC for some time, while Jones has the distinction of being the youngest-ever member of the Western Province Senior Women’s team.

“The COVID period was a unique challenge for me,” says 21-year-old Bosch. “Because we were not able to attend classes on campus, I found myself having a lot more free time and I threw myself into coaching [young girls and boys with the assistance of UWC’s Sports Skills for Life Skills (SS4LS) programme]. It is something I really enjoyed and I found myself doing a lot more of it. “But then I was doing so much, and also training, that I realised I needed to pay more attention to my academics. That’s how SS4LS became so important. My academic tutor was really good in helping set up a schedule that works for me, and in terms of aligning my priorities, so it helped in terms of my time management and getting me on track,” says Bosch.

TWENTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD JONES says she couldn’t play in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in February but volunteered to be a changeroom attendant for all the Newlands matches. “I just wanted to be involved in any way, to be up close to the best women’s cricketers in the world, to see how they prepare, both physically and mentally. Hopefully, I can transfer it to my game,” Jones says.

CURRENT WP CAPTAIN Jones recently joined the South Africa Emerging XI, which is one step below Protea selection. The impressive all-rounder is one of the young players destined to take the places of Proteas stalwarts such as Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail on the international scene.

JONES APPRECIATES THE ASSISTANCE she receives at the UWC Women’s Cricket Club, which she joined while in Grade 11 at Groote Schuur High School in Newlands. “I played at UWC while I was still at school and it was a great benefit then already. The academic administration was really helpful as they assisted me with a tutor who helped me with my studies. “They also provide us with transport to and from the games, which other clubs don’t, so that’s also a major help. These were big factors in my choosing to study and play cricket at UWC.”

SHE SAYS HER EXPERIENCE as a full-time student on campus has been “really amazing”. “My braces for my teeth were provided by the SS4LS programme. I wouldn’t have been able to afford them otherwise,” says Jones.

“Cricket-wise, it’s been so much. Our coach, Jerry [Malilwana], is always available for a net session.

“He is just a WhatsApp away and eager to have one-on-one sessions. He’s a really good coach and it helps you improve your game when you know that your coach is always available to assist you where necessary.”

ASIDE FROM THE SUPPORT of the UWC team of biokineticists and physiotherapists, Jones highlighted the value of the cricket nous of UWC Director of Cricket and former Pakistan Men’s national team coach, Richard Pybus.

“Pybie has been a great help to all the girls. He is such an experienced coach at the highest level and the work he does with us during winter is invaluable. He also sits in our pre-season strategy sessions and having him guide us through it is a great help.”