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Jacques Kallis New Age Friendship match - South Africa versus India

It is hard to imagine the different emotions that course through onesveins as one walks

out onto the Wanderers in front of a growing crowd at the Bull Ring. Six Jacques Kallis

Foundation boys and two past pupils felt that excitement when they were his guests at the

New Age Friendship match between South Africa and India.

Each, proudly representing his own school,

Wynberg Boys High School, Maritzburg

College, Selborne College and Pretoria Boys

High School, they walked through the

crowds and onto the field. With permanent

smiles, and busy hands clicking cameras,

they were introduced to all the

commentators who were paying tribute to

Jacques Kallis. The boys were then

interviewed by Mike Haysman. They all

started speaking with confidence, but the

knowledge that the interviews were live and

that their own voices were resounding

throughout the stadium made them feel a little too conspicuous for comfort.

The boys were then allowed to remain at

the entrance to the players tunnel,

where they gathered autographs, took

photographs and met the players. They

were finding it very difficult to containtheir excitement!

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Both teams entered for their warm ups; the boys mingled with the players and took even

more photographs. For the next hour, there was no let-up in their excitement - the whole

day was about them!

Knowing that they were the envy of the growing crowd of spectators, the boys walked past

them on their way up to the suite where drinks and snacks then supper and dessert were

theirs to enjoy.

Jacques Kallis did not disappoint the

crowds on his day. He smashed a glorious

half century. The only disappointing

moment of the event was when the heavens

opened and the rains came down, ending

what was building up to be a thrilling nail

biter. By the time the decision was made to

call off the match, the six school boys were

good friends.

But the rain did not dampen the evening for

the boys. Thanks to Jacques Kalliss

girlfriend, they were treated to an hour of

locker room time with the Proteas. This was

a cricketing Christmas for the boys. The Proteas were in the mood for giving and give

they did. All the boys were given autographed Proteas match kit, warm-up kit, pads and

gloves. At the end of the evening, they were the last to leave.

Special thanks go to Brigitte Marais of the Kallis Foundation for this rare opportunity to

give six boys: Chivaar Chuturgoon, Thomas Mashiane, Donovan Ferreira, Pumelela Payi,

Sohail Muhmoud and Robin Kriel and two old boys Lushen Govender and Bhoteke Mbombe

an unforgettable once-in-a life-time experience.