Cricket provides a source of inspiration for Barras’ Soper

KUMUL Petroleum Papua New Guinea Barramundis all-rounder Chad Soper says cricket has provided him with a source of inspiration as the sport continues to help improve his mental skills.
“Cricket has given me a drive and I’ve realised my passion,” he said.
“I love cricket and working with kids.”
Based in Australia, Soper — from Milne Bay (Samarai) and New Zealand — knows what his purpose is.
He already couples his passion for cricket and teaching in Australia where he coaches children at a private school and does one-on-one training.
It is the path he has decided to take after retirement from professional cricket. The 29-year-old said cricket had taught him patience and willpower.
Apart from other skills that the sport teaches, it is mostly mental skills and that is something he has learnt throughout his career.
“It has been an amazing journey so far,” Soper said.
“I get to make new friends.
“It’s funny, I was just looking through my passport and realised how many countries cricket has taken me to.”
It all started as a fun game with his dad at around the age of seven, with sloppy bowling skills in his white school shorts.
Fast forward to 2012, Soper made the PNG Under-19 team before he joined the Barras three years later.
Former Australian international cricketer Andrew Symonds and New Zealand international cricketer Ross Taylor were two men he looked up to growing up.
Watching how exceptional they played and finding commonalities about their backgrounds inspired Soper.
With the games played by the Barramundis over the years, he knows that they can win.
“The same core group who played four or five years ago and won those ODI tournaments are still here.
“We just need more match practice,” Soper said.
Commenting on the recent one-day international tournaments, he said: “It’s pretty disappointing, but we can do better.
“We just have to play smarter and be fearless. “We know that we can turn things around.”
In his down time, Soper loves surfing, playing the guitar and listening to good music.
Rooting for his Kiwi artistes, he loves anything from bands Six60 and L.A.B, with some Afrobeats added to his playlist.
Soper has also got an eye for photography – something he enjoys a lot.
In Dubai with the Barras, he remains positive about the team’s performance in the Twenty-20 World Cup which bats off on Sunday.
Soper is trusting in one of his favourite bible verses, Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”