Yusuf looking forward to ‘awesome vibe’ at Boland Park

The Yusuf family had to cut short a holiday to the Western Cape 24 years ago when Codi Yusuf was unexpectedly born early, but they are certainly looking to make the trek down south again next year when the SA20 League gets underway.

Yusuf, a fast-medium bowler from the West Rand of Johannesburg, was signed by the Paarl Royals for the inaugural SA20 season and it has certainly got everyone excited.

“Since the auction, that’s all everyone in my family has been talking about. The chat has been non-stop, that everyone is going to come and watch me play for the Paarl Royals and spend a bit of a holiday down there,” Yusuf said.

It certainly is a trip worth making for Yusuf, who is hoping to be part of the Royals’ starting XI to face neighbours MI Cape Town at Newlands in the much-anticipated SA20 League opener on January 10.

Furthermore, any visit to Boland Park - home of the Royals - is an experience. It is renowned for being among the most festive venues in the country, while it is also one of the most picturesque with the Drakenstein mountains providing the perfect backdrop.

A summer’s evening spent at the cricket is certainly a proper “night out” for the Paarl residents as the locals have traditionally turned up in their numbers to create quite a buzz inside the ground.

Yusuf has never played at Boland Park before, and therefore not sampled the unique bowling conditions in the Winelands too, but he cannot wait to experience it full-blown in the SA20 with the Paarl Royals.

“I haven’t played in Paarl before. I’ve heard a lot of stories about how hot and flat it can be. It's T20 cricket though where there are always runs scored, so it still comes down to your execution and skills,” he said.

“But I know there is an awesome atmosphere in the stadium and that’s what I am excited about. I am really looking forward to the vibe in the stadium.”

Yusuf’s journey to being signed up by the Paarl Royals - a subsidiary of inaugural Indian Premier League champions Rajasthan Royals - has certainly been a remarkable one.

It was only a few years ago that Yusuf was running in for Cricket SA Division 2 side Mpumalanga Rhinos in the Africa Cup, and now he will be joining the likes of England’s ODI World Cup winners Jos Buttler, Jason Roy, and Eoin Morgan.

It is for this reason that Yusuf is viewed as a role-model for the youngsters of the Florida Park community and Delfos CC where he learnt his trade. He is visible proof of someone that can overcome the odds if they are willing to put in the effort.

“It’s very exciting. It happened so quickly, but it is a rewarding feeling. I feel like I have put in the hard work. I would have never imagined three/four years ago that I would be playing with the best in the world like Jos Buttler and David Miller. It’s massive!” Yusuf said.

“I got a few messages from the guys at Delfos CC. Everyone was happy for me. There are guys that look up to me and it’s a nice feeling. At the end of the day, it’s a sport we’re playing here and if you can inspire anyone then you never know how far that little bit of inspiration can take a player.”

Yusuf will also be fulfilling a personal dream when he joins up with Paarl Royals coach JP Duminy.

“Growing up, JP was one of my favourite batters. It’s an honour to work with him. He was our batting coach at the Lions last year, so I did spend a bit of time with him, and I really enjoyed his coaching experience,” Yusuf said.

The SA20 League will take place in six iconic locations in South Africa – Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban, Gqeberha, Cape Town and Paarl - with the final set for the Wanderers in Johannesburg on 11 February.