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South Africa Cricket Tour 2002 By Anne Bruckard
When my husband Ossie and I decided to take the plunge and go with Australian Sports Tours to South Africa, we had no idea of the marvellous experiences that awaited us.
Cricket - yep! - that went without saying. Well, that’s why we were going. But there was so much more! Jamie and his staff had organised very special outings for us - dinner at the Carnivore Restaurant (where we ate just about every kind of animal known to man!!!), and visits to a Theatre Restaurant, a Zulu village, Monte Casino, Sun City, a tour through Soweto, it was amazing just how much was fitted into those three weeks - AND .... 9 days of cricket.
The day we visited Soweto was incredible. We walked through the Sandton International Hotel, on the way to the ATMs. The wealth of this place almost defies description. Soweto’s Freedom Park was such a contrast - utter poverty in the second largest shanty town in South Africa - no water or electricity. And no grotty African children. Barefoot perhaps - but always spotlessly clean! And the orphanage, with the AIDS babies, where the children sang for us. Many of us were weeping openly when we left - it was profoundly moving.
Really the only reason I went was so I could have my photo taken with Jacques Kallis - a feat I managed to achieve after the One Day International at Bloemfontein, when both teams were staying at our hotel. Dinner that night was bedlam - interrupted constantly as we rushed out to capture prized photos or signatures of guys from both teams.
But our most lasting impression was of the African people - always smiling, always happy and obliging. Taking a photograph of anybody was never a problem - the Zulus in national dress at Phezulu posed, inviting me to photograph them; and the smiling lady demonstrating African customs in the kitchen hut exuded such warmth; there was the beautiful black African bride at the Durban Hilton - our waitresses in Rivets Bar, a young African mother and child; Linda, our male African guide through Soweto (that‘s another story!) - Sam, the African male nurse when Ossie was very ill - and our African guides in Kruger.
Their warmth, and generosity of spirit were overwhelming. The memories of our trip are so rich, and we will carry them with us for ever.
ANNE BRUCKARD
South African Cricket Tour Mar/Apr 2002 | 
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