The Grade 12 pupil plays for his school’s first cricket team and said he had always had a passion for the game, but decided to change paths after realising that his dream of being a player for the Proteas wouldn’t come to pass.
“Not a day goes by where cricket is not on my mind,” he said. “From when I was young, my dream has always been to wear the green and gold for South Africa.”
However, Van As is already on the path to realising his alternate dream of being an umpire and has written the Gauteng Umpires Level 1 exam.
According to Avril Wright, the school’s communications secretary, Van As was one of the youngest qualified cricket umpires at this level and to date he has umpired more than 30 games for the Gauteng Cricket Umpires Association.
“He spends most weekends around the cricket pitch doing what he loves,” said Wright.
Van As explained that being an umpire was sometimes stressful because umpires decisions were final and weren’t always welcomed by the players on the field.
“It is difficult making a call mentally while the players are excitedly shouting for their team,” he said.
Van As looks forward to every match he umpires and his ultimate goal is to stand at the home of cricket, Lords in London, and have the opportunity to umpire The Ashes between England and Australia.
Master in charge of sport at the school Ken Mather said, “I admire his perseverance and passion for cricket.”
