A 17-year-old learner at Rusthof LSEN School, who is also a well-known young supporter of the local Hottentots-Holland Cricket Club (HHCC), fulfilled a long-held dream when he was selected to represent the Western Province cricket team at the SASAII (South African Sports Association for the Intellectually Impaired) Summer games held in Rustenburg, North West from Sunday 26 to Friday 31 March.
Jayden Blood is a familiar face on cricket and rugby fields in Strand, where he watches his heroes of the games every weekend with eager anticipation of one day replicating exactly what they do.
“He’s played cricket for HHCC since a junior and has been a consistent performer in all areas of the game,” sports coordinator at Rusthof LSEN School Shameegh Slamdien pointed out.
“As a sportsman Jayden is passionate about the game, is a fair player, always striving to improve. He’s played for the school in the Western Province LSEN league and plays soccer for the A team. But cricket is where he has really done well.”
Jayden is an opening fast bowler and also opens the batting, a clear indication of his natural talent, also boasting man-of-the-match awards in almost every game he plays.
As the first kid to ever be selected from Rusthof LSEN School, Jayden was over the moon to have made the WP team and go on his first-ever tour. “Looking at his background and circumstances, Jayden does not have an easy life, and everyone who knows him shared in his joy when he was selected,” said Slamdien
“The cricket community rallied to support him financially and emotionally to ensure he derived the most from this tour.
“We expect him to do well; he’s exemplary and we’re proud of him, and he deserves it, coming from a family of eight whom he also cares for. So he also has his fair share of hardships.”
Jayden said on his return the highlight of his trip was the long drive, exploring other parts of the country and making new friends along the way.
WP played in the final against North West, where the young player took two wickets and scored 18.
“All my friends play sport, so to make Western Province feels very special,” he said.
“I’ll never forget this feeling of representing the province. I’m hoping to be selected for the national ‘shadow’ team (the reserve team for SA).”
