Scottish cricket has reacted with shock to the news that the club professional at Aberdeenshire Cricket Club is receiving intensive treatment at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for a serious illness.
Solomzi Nqweni, 25, known to his many friends and colleagues as Solo, was taken to hospital earlier this week for emergency treatment. His family have travelled north to Aberdeen from South Africa to be at his bedside.
A statement from the club said yesterday: “It is with great sadness that we announce our 2019 Club Professional Solomzi Nqweni is currently receiving treatment in the intensive care unit of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
“Solo was taken to hospital in the early hours of Monday morning, and he has been receiving treatment ever since.
“Solo’s family and loved ones have arrived by his bedside, having made the journey from South Africa.
“It has been a tough time for both Solo and the people close to him, and we humbly ask that the privacy of Solo and his loved ones be respected at this time.
“Everyone at and associated with Aberdeenshire CC wishes Solo a speedy recovery.”
That message was shared by some of the leading figures in the Scottish game, including Malcolm Cannon, the chief executive of Cricket Scotland.
He said: “The cricket family in Scotland is a very close-knit community.
“So we are all saddened to hear of Solo’s recent illness. Everybody at Cricket Scotland sends their thoughts to Solo and wishes him a speedy recovery.”
Current international star, Michael Leask, one of the team which beat the newly-crowned World Cup winners, England, last summer was equally shocked.
He said: “I really hope that he gets all the help needed to recover quickly and I am thinking of him at this very tough time.”
Stoneywood-Dyce responded through their former Scotland star, Jan Stander, who is now president of the north-east club.
He said: “As a club and a cricket family, we are all in shock at the moment.
“It puts life into perspective, we are all just playing a game we love, and at times we can be disappointed with results, but we’re grateful for being healthy and able to compete.
“We will all keep Solo in our thoughts and prayers and wish him a quick and full recovery.”
