Sports / Cricket
Zimbabwe's blind cricket commentator quits
27 Jul 2012 at 05:56hrs | Views
THE world's only internationally acclaimed blind cricket commentator and columnist, Dean du Plessis, has quit his job as Digital Media Manager at Zimbabwe Cricket.
Du Plessis (35), tendered his resignation a week before the One Day Triangular A series in Harare.
Over the years he has had a few altercations with ZC management and made truces along the way, but recent downside events have forced him to leave.
He said he was leaving ZC partly because of a recent 30 percent salary cut that affected all the association's employees last November.
Du Plessis currently works as a switchboard operator at Swift Transport.
Du Plessis says contrary to popular belief, his career was not a thriving one.
"I wouldn't say my career was exactly thriving. I was fortunate enough to go to Bangladesh back in October 2009 but after all the compliments people gave me I was disregarded.
"I was very hurt when I was excluded to go to the World Cup last year. When you put in hard work, it is always nice to be rewarded, " said Du Plessis.
Many have wondered how he is able to comment live cricket and write cricket reports and this has drawn attention from all over the world.
"I have given up commentating for ever as I realised that after 11 years of trying it was never going to happen.
"The challenge I faced throughout my career as a commentator was the fact that I never played international cricket.
"Everybody was always keen to get a story about how I commentate which always left me thinking that I may just be approached by a radio or television station but it never came to pass.
"However, I will still do the odd bit of question and answer. But that is about as far as it goes," he said.
He feels very humbled and honoured that people think he has contributed to cricket.
"I may have contributed towards people feeling better about themselves by showing the world that anything is possible, but I never contributed towards the actual game of cricket.
"Cricket broadcasting and reporting will always be entrenched in my soul and I would be lying if I said that I wouldn't seriously think about taking up an offer as a full-time reporter but this time I would have a few conditions of my own.
"Nothing too demanding, but I would make sure that I am just as happy as my employer would be."
Du Plessis (35), tendered his resignation a week before the One Day Triangular A series in Harare.
Over the years he has had a few altercations with ZC management and made truces along the way, but recent downside events have forced him to leave.
He said he was leaving ZC partly because of a recent 30 percent salary cut that affected all the association's employees last November.
Du Plessis currently works as a switchboard operator at Swift Transport.
Du Plessis says contrary to popular belief, his career was not a thriving one.
"I wouldn't say my career was exactly thriving. I was fortunate enough to go to Bangladesh back in October 2009 but after all the compliments people gave me I was disregarded.
"I was very hurt when I was excluded to go to the World Cup last year. When you put in hard work, it is always nice to be rewarded, " said Du Plessis.
"I have given up commentating for ever as I realised that after 11 years of trying it was never going to happen.
"The challenge I faced throughout my career as a commentator was the fact that I never played international cricket.
"Everybody was always keen to get a story about how I commentate which always left me thinking that I may just be approached by a radio or television station but it never came to pass.
"However, I will still do the odd bit of question and answer. But that is about as far as it goes," he said.
He feels very humbled and honoured that people think he has contributed to cricket.
"I may have contributed towards people feeling better about themselves by showing the world that anything is possible, but I never contributed towards the actual game of cricket.
"Cricket broadcasting and reporting will always be entrenched in my soul and I would be lying if I said that I wouldn't seriously think about taking up an offer as a full-time reporter but this time I would have a few conditions of my own.
"Nothing too demanding, but I would make sure that I am just as happy as my employer would be."
Source - TC
