There was a long pause in the President’s Suite at Newlands Cricket Ground as a warrior choked back tears. It meant that much to him as he remembered many years later the moment he nearly gave his wicket away cheaply at Lord’s writes Gasant Abarder in a new #SliceofGasant.
Abarder, who recently launched his book, Hack with a Grenade, is among the country’s most influential media voices. Catch his weekly column here, exclusive to Cape {town} Etc.
Ashwell Prince’s name would be etched onto the honour’s board later that day following a significant century against England at the home of cricket to save the Test match. One might have thought the emotions he experienced would be joy and elation.
But the word burden came to mind when the champion cricketer told the audience about that moment. The burden of being a player of colour in the heart of the batting line-up for South Africa – batting not only for himself but for all people of colour who never had the opportunity.
‘I thought we would get bowled out so I tried to be a bit more aggressive. I hit it in the air and it landed safely. It was a moment that said to me: “You know what, you’ve got a chance here to prove to the world.” I don’t think people quite understand that when you come through the first generation, out of apartheid, you get these opportunities, we know what those before us have been robbed of and not having these opportunities.
‘There I was in the middle of Lord’s playing a shot and nearly losing my wicket with 60 or 70 odd on the board. I reminded myself that I had an opportunity to show the world what my people can do. If you know about the history of this country and without an opportunity given, the narrative was just that we can’t do it. I said to myself, calm yourself down, keep going… if you look at the celebration there was hardly a smile. It’s just a lot of emotion…’
At this moment Ashwell abruptly stopped talking as the tears flowed. It was the same burden of responsibility his long-standing friend Vincent Barnes and Debra Barnes felt when they took Ashwell into their home as a rookie when he first moved from the Eastern Cape to join Western Province.
It was the same burden Vincent – a fine footballer and champion fast bowler who missed out on playing for South Africa because of apartheid – felt when he vowed to prepare the next generation of players of colour to play for South Africa. Vincent’s burden ensured he did more, preparing players from all walks of life and background to represent their country with distinction.
The two friends were announcing their Barnes Prince Foundation at Newlands on Friday night. It’s a place where they fought so hard to be respected. Their Foundation promises to create opportunities for young people through sport and education.
Ashwell and Vincent are the perfect combination to realise such a development initiative. They were forged from stern stuff. Playing representative cricket under the SACOS banner at grounds where car lights lined the boundary when the natural light faded. Coming from a session of play to find a cow in the dressing room!
We are ready for these two champions to take up the cudgels and lead. But administrators, coaches, sporting bodies and educational institutions need to partner with them. It’s not just about unearthing great sporting talent but nurturing the next generation of South Africans in whatever field they will excel at – across race or class.
I know a little about the burden Ashwell and Vincent share. The burden of the writer of colour. A few weeks ago, I wrote about the birth of fluffy bunny babies in my household and how that taught me a lesson about parenthood. But you don’t want that, dear reader of this column. Those columns don’t quite hit the mark in the same way it does when I prickle your social conscience and leave you with food for thought.
That is my burden. Our burden; mine, Ashwell and Vincent’s. And though it is tiring, we dare not let up. The generation after ours is already free of this burden. Kagiso Rabada, taking a 5-for at Lord’s recently against England was just unadulterated joy from the player, teammates and fans alike.
With their foundation, Ashwell and Vincent are carrying the burden so the next generation won’t have to.
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Picture: Gasant Abarder