Young achiever Trueman a passionate cricketer

Relaxed in the company of his mother Lisa, the young Stanford Lake College (SLC) learner and passionate cricketer Lance Trueman is very modest and humble when it comes to his achievements in his favourite sport.
Since a young age Lance excelled in cricket and taking his achievements in consideration, his dream of becoming a Protea player after school is a given.
Still at school but already playing senior cricket for two years as an Aces Cricket Club member is proof of Lance’s dedication and passion for the game and finished the recent season on a high note with four awards as Bowler and Player of the Year in the premier league as well as duplicating the same awards for Limpopo Impala Cricket (LIC) during their recent prize giving ceremony.
Last year Lance was announced most improved youngster in the premier league. Lance is the youngest player in the premier league and played in nine matches this season scoring 334 runs. He bowled a total of 84,4 overs which included eight maidens, 24 wickets and an economy of 4,9 runs per over. His best was 126 runs of 128 balls during a match against Potties Old Boys Club in February.
“It is a great honour to be acknowledged by the province – all due to hard work and putting in much effort during every practice session and matches played during the season,” he said.
Lance has already qualified for Limpopo colours five times and remembers with pride when he was only 10 years old and already played for the u.11 provincial team. He was then named LIC u.11 Player of the Year.
As primary school learner of Mitchell House and Pepps Polokwane Preparatory School and College, Lance rose to prominence during the u.15 provincial cricket championships by being announced Man of the Match after taking five wickets for 17 runs in Bloemfontein.
For two consecutive years in 2012 and 2013 Mitchell House named Lance Cricket Player of the Year and walked away as Batsman, Bowler and Player of the Year at Pepps in 2015. After his first year Lance was awarded as best junior cricketer of SLC in 2016 and has been playing for the college’s first team since then. He is also part of SLC’s first hockey and squash team and achieved Limpopo colours twice in hockey.
Speaking about what he likes most about cricket he says: “The battle between a batsman and a bowler as well as the camaraderie between players.”
A good player according to him has a continuous growing passion for the game, always strives to do better and maintains a positive attitude on and off the field.
Linking a positive attitude with walking for a duck, Lance admits to being bowled out for zero several times. “I’ll never forget the first time I walked on the field for Aces and was bowled for a duck. It happens and one has to handle disappointments by motivation from team members and by maintaining a positive mind set.”
According to Lance practising is very important and it determines a century or a duck during any match.
He laughs when asked whether he is a better batsman than a bowler.
“I prefer both. I am quite an all-rounder and love all aspects of the game. Just by being on the field is good enough for me,” he said.
He is not sure what to do after school yet but one thing is for sure: cricket will be a big part of it.

Story: RC Myburgh
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