17 January 2025
(Feature photo: Zach Williamson, Tim Saulez, Lawson Dinsdale, and Shiraz Perumal show off their new traditional white and limited overs’ playing kits).
The Clifton 1st XI and their families gathered at the Riverside Sports Club on Thursday evening for the handover of their 2025 playing kit, both the traditional whites and limited overs shirts. In an exciting development, it marked the first time that the school’s kit includes sponsors.
That’s a reflection of a cricket programme that has made some ambitious moves in recent times. In 2024, Clifton introduced the Clifton T20, which brings together KwaZulu-Natal’s top 10 boys’ schools, along with two others (from 2025), to compete for the magnificent Clifton Centenary Cup. This year, all three days of the event will be broadcast live on DStv Channel 216 with multiple cameras and commentary, and on the SuperSport Schools app.
In another big move, Clifton has brought Robbie Frylinck into the fold. His career as a professional cricketer spanned 2004 to 2020 and included representing South Africa in T20 internationals. An all-rounder, his gritty never-say-die fighting spirit shone through and that’s something that should become a very visible part of the makeup of the Clifton 1st XI this year.
At the event, Clifton’s Director of Cricket, Brandon Scullard, announced that he would slowly be handing over the reins of the 1st XI to Frylinck, who assured the parents that the school’s number one team would become a “harder” unit.
He has plenty to work with, with Clifton losing only two players from the 2024 1st XI. Especially in the last term of last year, the side produced good cricket and strong results, so they will be an outfit to keep an eye on.
When they take to the field, the tastefully designed kit will include International Trading Agency on the front and Edgars on the back. On the sleeves will be EIT Freight Village and Tomato Watches.
“It’s a milestone in Clifton’s history,” Director of Cricket, Brandon Scullard, said. “It’s the first time in Clifton’s history that the school has partnered with esteemed corporates and secured sponsorships, and we will be proudly displaying them on our kits this year. This partnership marks a new era of ‘professionalism’ and support for our young boys.
“We’re aware that we have some young talent here, and we know this year is going to be very exciting.”
Focussing on the impact of the sponsors, Scullard added: “We really want to do these brands proud. Without them, there’s a lot this year that we wouldn’t have been able to achieve.”
The shirts won’t include names. They’ll feature numbers. As Frylinck, who called that one of his favourite features about them, explained to the gathering: “Whatever your number is, someone else is going to use that number as we go on. Where we have that number, it’s our role to make sure that that number plays a massive part in the school, our sponsors and how we leave it behind us.”
“My biggest goal, where I go, is to leave the place in a better space than when we found it or got into it.
“That’s massively important for our grade 12s. It’s your last year here. It’s such a special year. What can you guys leave for the guys who are following? That’s a massive responsibility and I am looking forward to being a part of that journey.”
Frylinck, also, urged his players to enjoy the year and called on their parents to be part of a shared and fulfilling journey.
Underlining his approach, he stated: “My big goal this year is to grow a team.”
Each member of the squad received their shirts from the sponsors, Theo Vermeulen, representing, International Trading Agency and EIT Freight Village, and Norman Drieselmann, representing Edgars and Tomato Watches.
They were also congratulated by Clifton’s Executive Headmaster, Clyde Mac Donald, and the 1st XI coaches, Brandon Scullard and Robbie Frylinck.
Jackson Nienaber, referred to as the team’s “stats guru”, was presented with a special bag for his scoring equipment.
The players who received shirts included Cristiano Borrageiro, Luthando Mazibuko, Muhammed Malek, Muhammad Asmall, Blake Johnson, Hayden Drieselmann, Regan Radley, Caleb Naicker, Cohen Naidoo, Gabriel Vermeulen, Shiraz Perumal, vice-captain Zach Williamson, vice-captain Lawson Dinsdale, and captain Tim Saulez.
Saulez thanks the sponsors, promising them that he and his team would do them proud. “We understand that it is a huge privilege to honour, and we know we are the first boys to receive anything like this, so we are making history.”
“Every single time we put on this shirt, we understand that we are playing for something bigger than ourselves, the school that we represent and you, our sponsors. Thank you.”
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