'I was arrogant and selfish' - South Africa's Sinalo Jafta discloses her journey fighting alcoholism

Sinalo Jafta's cricketing journey has not been the smoothest when it comes to her mental health as well as her physical wellbeing. The 29-year-old opened up on her struggles with alcoholism. Having lost her drive for the game on her return to the international side in 2019, a couple of years post getting dropped from the setup, the South Africa cricketer opened up on her past.

An emotional Jafta opened up about the “vicious cycle” which she had stepped into, as well as her mindset post joining rehabilitation.

“I entered rehab and that humbled me, but I still didn't admit that I was an alcoholic. At that point, I realised that if I lose my cricket career, so be it. It was my life that I was trying to get back. Whether I had a career coming back, it didn't matter,” stated Jafta to the ICC.

Watch the video of Jafta here:

It was Hilton Moreeng, the then-Proteas head coach, and Tshegofatso Gaetsewe, the team doctor, who helped Jafta joining the rehabilitation facility in KwaZulu-Natal Midlands in October 2022. This came shortly after she did not remember being a part of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, spanning across July and August, earlier in the year.

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I was called arrogant, entitled and selfish by the people I stayed with: Jafta

The wicketkeeper-batter of South Africa Women further confessed that she had had a torrid time dealing with the various online trolls who would mock her for her body, as well as the perception her fellow patients during rehab had of her. 

“I think alcohol was killing me at that point, if I'm being honest. I was called arrogant, entitled, and selfish by the people I stayed with (in rehab), but it wasn't a malicious point as they cared (for me). But that was what it took, as I look back and I was arrogant, I was very selfish, and I was very entitled. I will admit that,” she added.

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Having made her debut in 2016, Jafta has represented the Proteas in 3 Tests, 32 ODIs, and 49 T20Is up until now. As far as her work with the gloves is concerned, she has affected 54 catches and 11 stumping dismissals so far.