Now in their second season in the Boland Veterans’ League, the Helderberg Vikings veterans cricket team continues to prove that age is just a number, as they put on consistent displays of talent and passion for the gentleman’s game.
Chris Roos, franchise manager of locally-based Vikings team, explained Western Province and Boland were among the first unions alongside Gauteng to establish such a league, affiliated to the Veterans’ Cricket Association of South Africa.
All the players are over 40 years old and compete in the Boland Veterans’ League on Fridays, which includes other teams like Stellenbosch Strikers, Paarl Heat and Drakenstein Griffins.
“These are not club teams but rather franchise teams,” said Roos, who explained that the Vikings’ colours are made-up of the different clubs in the Helderberg as a means of showing unity and bringing the basin together.
He added that the team won the league last season, but were unable to compete in the club championships due to a lack of funding. However, this year the team is committed to going all the way, and have appealed to the community to support it through sponsorships.
The Vikings were also represented by three of their players chosen for the Boland veterans’ team, which played at the interprovincial tournament in Johannesburg last month. The team won two out of three games and were crowned Plate winners. At the close of the tournament, one of their players, James Albanie, was selected to play for the Proteas over-50 team set to compete in a series involving three other international teams in Pretoria later this year.
The opening bowler previously played for various clubs in Western Province and Boland, and was named bowler of the interprovincial tournament, clinching 10 wickets.
“Our team was founded on the principles of active living, building friendships and giving back to the community,” said Albanie. “Whether it is assisting with coaching or spearheading a sanitary and dignity project, which we recently supported, our aim is to build our communities through sport and social responsibility.”
According to Roos, the Vikings encourage people joining their ranks and rotate, so everyone has a chance to play. If there’s a demand, another franchise team may be established.
“In March next year, South Africa is hosting the over-50s World Cup in Cape Town,” Roos said. “We are looking forward to it, as it was called off due to Covid-19 last time. Hopefully we’ll have some of our players participate too.”
Roos said funds and sponsorships are often an issue due to ground and umpire fees as well as travel costs. The Vikings are currently play their home games in Stellenbosch.
“Some of our players lost their jobs during the pandemic so it can be a struggle,” he related.
“Just a few weeks ago one of them lost everything in a house fire in Macassar, so we got together as a team and raised some money to support him, even getting him new cricket gear. We are there for one another and love the game dearly. I appeal to any business or individual to assist us in any way to allow us to continue enjoying a game that’s so close to our hearts.”
For more information on Helderberg Vikings, contact Roos on 082 967 5308 or chasmarroos@yahoo.com
