ZAHEER Jaffary, who helped set up a girls’ cricket team at Carlton Bolling College just over two years ago, was named Secondary Teacher of the Year.
Mr Jaffary’s coaching has led the team, many of whom had never previously played the game, to a string of achievements including 2015 Yorkshire under-13 indoor county champions and the 2016 Yorkshire under-15 outdoor county champions. Three girls now play for Yorkshire.
He is also a Sunday coach at Yorkshire County Cricket club and has coached the boys who are now Bradford under-15 indoor and outdoor Cricket Champions.
He has also played a major role in plans for a Cricket Academy which will open at the school this year.
Putting together the team has meant Mr Jaffary has had to shatter many cultural views about women’s role in sports.
He accepted the award in front of his family on his 22nd wedding anniversary.
He said: “I want to give thanks to my head Adrian (Kneeshaw). In the three years since we set up the team he has supported the campaign fully.
“It has been difficult getting all the girls on board with the barriers and gender stereotypes, but he’s been there the whole time.”
After leaving the stage he told the T&A: “I want to dedicate this to the girls’ cricket team, they’ll be absolutely delighted. They lost out in the finals the other night which they were disappointed in. I told them if I won this it would be for them. I think they are more excited about this than anyone.
“I do this because I want to do it, we don’t do it for the accolades. It is a testament to these girls’ hard work in the face of continuous barriers. None of them have come from a cricketing background.”
The category was sponsored by Craven College.
l Honourary mentions:
Nadine Hirst, Bradford Academy
Sajeela Shah, Bingley Grammar
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