Young Cricket Volunteer picks up Award at Surrey OSCAs
Friday 31 August 2012
Cricket for Change volunteer Matiullah Haidar picked up the Young Volunteer of the Year Award, sponsored by Surrey Sports Park, at the Surrey Outstanding Services to Cricket Awards (OSCAs) Night at the Oval Ground on Tuesday evening.
Over 340 people attended the annual event at the Oval, which aims to recognise the contribution of the 1000s of cricket volunteers around Surrey.
This year’s event was the first in which Surrey Sports Park sponsored an award and was won by Matiullah Haidar from Cricket for Change, a charity which uses cricket to change the lives of disadvantaged young people.
Matiullah came to the UK just 4 years ago from Afghanistan, holding no qualifications and speaking no English. Since his arrival he has qualified as a cricket coach and captained a refugee cricket club, which he is now managing. His nominator said that “he is an inspiration to others, demonstrating that regardless of your background you can aspire to make a difference to the lives of others.”
Paul Blanchard, CEO of Surrey Sports Park, said: “At Surrey Sports Park we think that it is important to recognise the achievements of young people around the world, but especially within our local community. These people are the future of sport at all levels and it is important that they have incentives to continue their involvement.
“Matiullah really is a deserved winner of the Young Volunteer award. He is a role model for all young cricket players in Surrey, especially given the tough circumstances in which he came to the UK.”
The 10 winners of the various awards given throughout the night will now go onto the regional and national awards nights through the NatWest OSCAs and Sky Sports Coach of the Year Awards.
