Notebook Entry
Oops... Puma did it again.
Oops… Puma did it again. They step up, again, when no one else does. I am a sucker for stories like this one. I just hope that someone else out there gets moved by them.
At this point I am wondering if I can be a good cricket fan if I do not support Puma. I don’t mean that you are suddenly going to start seeing me wearing Puma apparel. No, the good stuff is a little too expensive for me to afford, but I am a fan of their work in supporting cricket. The last time Puma did this, we spent days talking about it.
How could we not? Ryan Burl, a good cricketer from a Test playing nation, publicly asking for help with gear is a big deal. The incident also opened my eyes to the nature of some of the dealings behind the scenes. I got to hear incredible titbits from a few people that left me in a mild state of shock. There was just a lot to unpack. Jarrod Kimber even did a video on the matter.
But, at the end of the day, the biggest winner was cricket, and I loved Puma for it.
And now, barely 2 months later Puma are at it again, stepping in to help a struggling cricketer. But this time, there isn't a lot of chatter about the situation. That has to be expected, after all, things are a little bit different. There’s less politics at play and it is an unknown player from a country no one really associates with cricket. This kid is playing cricket in the wilderness, if there is anything of that nature in the cricketing world. I mean, even in Sierra Leone cricket is a few rungs below the major sports. Football, volleyball, boxing, athletics and basketball.
Just the other day I read about an initiative by Sierra Leone Cricket Association (SLCA) and the Sports Writers Association of Sierra Leone (SWASAL) where the two bodies identified about 20 journalists to train them on how to report on cricket. The country also has only one cricket pitch that meets ICC requirements.
And this is what makes George Edward Ngegba, the young man who made his public plea, interesting. I mean, he made his debut for the national team at 15 and at 17 he was already captaining both the Under-19 and the national side. In 2020 the teenager won the Sportsman of the Year Award - that is a big deal in a country dominated by football.
George is quite accomplished for someone who played most of his cricket using a bat carved for him by his uncle, a furniture carpenter. And when he was not using that one, he uses one carved for him by his friend and national team teammate Abass Gbla - this one carved from coconut tree. He doesn't own a proper bat, never has. When with the national side they use team bats, most of which might be in quite a state too.
“Since I started my career I have never been able to buy a bat for myself due to lack of sponsorship or financial support,” he says.
I suppose that this would make cricket a less attractive sport in Sierra Leone.
But it's not just bats that are his problem, it's cricket gear in general.
"I also face challenges with other equipments too. Most times I've been in a situation in which I would prefer using two different kinds of batting gloves because one of gloves might have worn out or a teammate has sweated in them and they are wet inside," says George. "Helmets too has been another challenge as to get the one that really fits my head."
But this does very little to dampen his spirit. He has big dreams. He wants to play in T20 leagues around the world.
"I have always wanted to become a professional cricketer, wherein I will be able to play the IPL, Big Bash, Vitality Blast and other major franchise leagues if possible," he admits.
Lofty dreams from the young batting allrounder, but what else is there for him to set his sights on after he has accomplished so much at such a young age? I have a love for the dramatic, and it is not lost on me that young George was born in the same year that Sierra Leone became an affiliate member of the ICC, 2002. Can he then go on to become the first from Sierra Leone to ply his trade in leagues outside of Sierra Leone? That would be amazing, wouldn’t it?
Only time will tell if his dreams will come true. Whether he will get to play or visit the home and grounds where his idol, Sachin Tendulkar has played. For a long time Tendulkar was the only player whom he knew of, he never really got a chance to watch a lot of cricket. However, his most immediate goal is to try to help his country qualify for the T20 World Cup.
"I would love to qualify my country in any of the World Cup tournaments - ODI or T20 - and put up some great and remarkable performance."
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