LISTEN/READ: How a young cricketer is helping his mom take cancer’s wicket
He has penned a book to make his mom proud.
It has been said that there has never been, nor will there ever be, anything quite as special as the love between a mother and her son.
Just ask rising young cricketer Owam Sithebe (15) from Rynfield, who has written a book dedicated to and in support of his mother, Mpumi, who is battling stage four breast cancer.
Owam, who plays both indoor and outdoor cricket provincially, said the idea to write a book started as a Grade Seven project at his former primary school, St Columba’s, and evolved from there.
He has since penned the autobiography How I Took Cancer’s Wicket from My Mom, which is set to be released soon by self-publishing company Lesedi House Publishers.
LISTEN to Caxton Radio’s Logie G’s chat with Owam and his mom here:
The book tells how the young man is using his love for sport to help him cope with his mother’s fight against the disease and to make her proud.
“I thought, let me show appreciation to my mom for the help she has given me by writing a book,” said the Grade Nine Benoni High School learner.
“I decided to write about my sport and my mom’s health, even though it did get pretty tough at times.”
Mpumi said the book has inspired her on her journey with breast cancer.
“I think there’s more to it than just a book.
“Boys or men sometimes don’t know how to express their feelings.
“Owam knows that I like sport and he kept on saying, ‘Let me show you how I support you rather than tell you.’”
Owam harbours aspirations of becoming an international cricketer and said he loves all aspects of the game, particularly the fact that it is a gentleman’s game and he considers himself to be a gentleman.
“I would obviously like to be a professional cricketer some day and try help children realise that they need to support their parents when they really need them most.”
Mpumi added that it is important for parents to be upfront and honest with their children when they are going through difficulties in life.
“If moms or dads are going through tough times, they need to share it with their children so that they can understand and support you best and vice versa if your child is going through something difficult.”
Mpumi, who helped her son type out the pages of the book after he drafted them by hand on paper, said there are many exciting things contained within the book, especially for Benonians, as it includes photographs of a number of familiar places in Benoni.
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