With South Africa's T20 World Cup opener fast-approaching, Hollywoodbets Dolphins and Proteas fast bowler Ottniel Baartman always knew his calling was to serve his country.
But never in his wildest dreams did he conceive that he would serve South Africa as a cricketer at a World Cup tournament.
That’s because Baartman always believed his background growing up in the small town of Oudtshoorn, found in the Karoo in the Western Cape didn’t present the best opportunities.
Baartman witnessed many young talented sports stars not make it to the professional ranks as scouts “never really looked there” for talent.
Oudtshoorn is renowned more for its popular ostrich farms than for producing sporting talent.
That’s the reason Baartman rationed that he had a better chance to serve in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), a dream that still lives on.
“Interesting story, I probably was and I’m still going to go to the army,” said Baartman during an interview with Hollywoodbets Sports.
“I told one journalist the other day that if it wasn’t for one coach (Andre du Plessis) who changed my mind, I wasn’t going to play cricket.
“Because everything was signed off and certain (I’m going to the army).
“He (Du Plessis) said ‘Stay and we will make it work.’ Actually, it happened and we made it work, look at where we are now,” said a beaming Baartman.
The 31-year-old is set to represent the Proteas at the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup after being named in Rob Walter’s 15-man squad for the tournament co-hosted in the West Indies and the US.
“I was thinking the other day that I never thought I was going to be able to play for South Africa or to make it this far in this career,” Baartman added.
“Because Oudtshoorn is a small town and nobody really looks at Oudtshoorn or players from Oudtshoorn.
“I feel like making the World Cup squad will put Oudtshoorn on the map now.
“Maybe in the future, a lot of Proteas or players will get recognition for what they do.
“I feel like there’s a lot of good quality players in Oudtshoorn but they never got seen, so that talent goes to waste.”
Despite a lack of self-belief during the early stages of his career, Baartman has pushed himself to be one of the most-talked-about white-ball bowlers, helping the Eastern Cape Sunrisers defend their SA20 title before being snapped up by the Dehli Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
His starring role with the ball saw Baartman being named the SA20 Bowler of the Season.
Many felt that’s where the bowler staked his claim and made it hard for national team selectors to leave him out of the squad.
“I feel like it played a bigger role, being part of the SA20 and making a statement by putting in big performances but the selection point of view maybe SA20 helped a bit,” Baartman said.
“But I still had doubts because you compete with some quality bowlers such as Lungi Ngidi and other guys that have played for South Africa over a period of time.
“In my mind, there were still those doubts but when I received the news I was still shocked that I made the 15-man squad.
“I was in India for the IPL with Delhi when the news came that I’ve made the team. As a kid, you always dream of playing for South Africa but to make the World Cup squad is the ultimate dream.
“That’s what we dream of. It doesn’t matter where or what league you play in, I feel the World Cup is the ultimate dream.
“Actually, for the whole day, I couldn’t believe it. I was quiet for the entire day, I didn’t share the news with anyone. I didn’t even share it with my wife. I had to keep silent until it was released in the news.
“It became a reality when we met up with the whole squad in Pretoria and had a camp.”
The seamer credited his move from the Knights to the Hollywoodbets Dolphins four years ago as a huge game-changer in his career.
“As a cricketer, that was the best move I’ve ever made,” said Baartman.
“The support they have there for the players, the professionals that are there and I believe Immy (Imraan Khan, coach) is a good quality coach and Quinton Friend (assistant coach), they try to bring the best out of each player.
“I feel like sometimes we are not giving credit to them as well for the hard work that they put in.
“The faith they’ve shown in me (is great) and from that I haven’t looked back. My career has been on an upward trajectory.
“I remember that after my first year in the Dolphins, I made the Test squad but unfortunately I couldn’t join the squad because of Covid-19. The support and professionalism of the Dolphins team is exceptional.”
O̶t̶t̶n̶i̶e̶l̶ OUTniel Baartman bringing his 🅰️-Game 🔥#SEC #SunrisersEasternCape #PlayWithFire #MICTvSEC pic.twitter.com/N5I16432rn
— Sunrisers Eastern Cape (@SunrisersEC) January 18, 2024
The Proteas get their World Cup campaign underway against Sri Lanka at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in the US on Monday at 16:30 (SA time).
“I feel like we can take game by game, obviously as a team, we want to win the World Cup but the process started before that,” said Baartman.
“The training we’ve put in, the hard yards we put in but as the World Cup goes I think we will take it game by game.
“We can’t get too ahead of ourselves if we are to achieve what we are hoping to achieve at the World Cup,” he concluded.
