FROM BACKYARD GAMES TO BIG DREAMS

Shanell Binedall

@shanell_lalalal

SW Kemp, a Human Movement Sciences student at North-West University’s (NWU) Potchefstroom Campus, has been named Student Player of the Year at the prestigious Cricket South Africa (CSA) Pathway Awards. The event, held at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg under the theme “Celebrating Greatness”, saw 25 trophies handed out across grassroots, amateur, and senior levels of South African cricket.

Kemp, an all-rounder representing North West, described the recognition as “feeling like a dream”. Despite the individual honour, he considers winning the 2024 University Sports South Africa (USSA) Championships in Bloemfontein his greatest team achievement. “This award is a bonus—winning the USSA with my teammates meant everything,” he said.

Kemp attributes much of his success to NWU’s support system, crediting his coaches and teammates for constantly challenging him to grow — both as a player and a person. “They guide me and push me to keep on bettering myself, not just in cricket but as a human being too.”

Balancing elite sport with academics hasn’t been easy. “I rely mostly on self-study because I miss a lot of classes due to tours and important practices,” he explained. Despite the demanding schedule, Kemp continues to excel both on and off the field.

His cricketing journey began humbly in the backyard, playing with his brothers and uncles. However, the road to success wasn’t without challenges. “To be honest, I’ve been knocking on doors for a while. I had some setbacks. After school, I rushed to make it and ended up burning out. I stopped playing for a year, but NWU and Coach Conrad de Swart gave me a second chance, and I’m grateful. My real journey only started here.”

While Kemp is classified as an all-rounder, he admits that he feels most comfortable with a bat in hand. Looking ahead, his ultimate dream is to represent South Africa as a Protea and play in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

When asked what advice he would give to young cricketers, Kemp’s message was clear: “Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Enjoy the game with your friends for as long as you can. Play other sports too, and surround yourself with people who are better and stronger than you.”

Kemp’s story is one of resilience, opportunity, and determination—an inspiring reminder that with the right support and mindset, greatness is within reach.

SW Kemp (on the left) celebrating the winning of the USSA championships
(Source: Provided)

Edited by Isabel Burgers