TRIBUTE: We miss you ChepCricket

GONE TOO SOON Emily 'ChepCricket' Chepng'etich Ruto

Following the shocking and sad news of this rising star’s death after a short illness, John Lawrence, the last journalist to interview the Kenya Womens Cricket team captain, pays tribute to a sports lady whose life was cut short in her prime. We celebrate Emily’s boundaries in the game of life and accomplished innings that set her apart as a humble sportswoman despite her achievements.

Dear beloved ChepCricket,
I guess this is what they meant when they said life is tough. This is really hard, harder than a cricket ball. Tougher than any bat.

Yours was a passionate life. You were focused and believed in a cause that you pursued with no expectation of reward. I remember you telling me about your colleagues in the national team. How you loved representing Kenya. How wearing the country’s jersey emblazoned with your name at the back gave you national pride. How this made you feel patriotic and proud to be Kenyan.

“My name is Emily Chepng’etich Ruto, I am 25 years old. Many call me ChepCricket because when I first joined the team, I was the first cricketer from the Kalenjin community,” That’s how you broke the ice when we sat for an interview that unforgettable morning of August 17. It is an unforgettable moment that’s still vividly clear in my mind. Your personality. Your modesty. How can one forget such humility?

For one hour, you entranced me with you fervent love for cricket and the great value you attached to family. Your nostalgic reminiscence about your school days at Kenya High revealed how you stumbled upon the sport and fell in love with it.

Clearly, your achievement was no mean feat, and playing for the national team was an honour you embraced despite the challenges. This was your insightful take on the matter: “I was just joining the University of Nairobi and needed to strike a balance between my studies and the game. My father wanted me to focus on my studies and would sometimes make light of my love for cricket by saying, ‘unapenda hii mchezo ya wahindi.’”

So much was placed on your young shoulders. We sat and watched as you carried our national pride. That must have put so much pressure on a girl so young, yet very ambitious. I haven’t forgotten how you let it known that such a task was not without its emotional strains when you told me that, “I faced my ups and downs on the pitch and my lowest moment was losing games that we could have easily won, like when we faced Uganda. I hated it.”

That you were making a huge difference and was successful was clearly demonstrated by those who were envious of you. Some fought so hard to edge you off the mantle of the team’s captaincy. But your fighting spirit was never dimmed and your courageous exploits on the pitch put them all to shame.

Obviously life is fickle and we never for once thought the wind will blow the candle that was your fulfilling life so soon. Your dream was to play at the World Cup and possibly turn professional. You said that if this didn’t happen, you would love to give back and help nurture budding talent. You left too soon and and didn’t play in the World Cup. But that dream is still valid. That fire you lit, the path you blazed and the inspiration you became keeps the dream alive. We see you in every run and bowling by young girls who looked up to you. Your dream lives. Their accomplishments are yours. And they will play in the World Cup. ChepCricket, you will play in the World Cup, through them, in their minds and in their aspirations. The heroine we love so much is not dead.  You are still here. In our hearts. In our minds. In our thoughts. As coach O’okinyo says, these young girls lived to see a rare kind of cricketer - one of the finest infields Kenya has ever had.

Neither have your values become obsolete. Your desire to see a corruption-free Cricket Kenya is attainable and will be realised. We have to make sure it happens.

 I can’t say goodbye, not yet. Not to you captain, no. Not when you’ve just become a luminary in our cricket’s hall of fame. I miss you. We miss and love you. So keep bowling, keep moving, till we meet again ChepCricket. Peace.