One of the most-feared fast bowlers in world cricket, Kagiso Rabada, is famous for his blistering pace and bounce but there is a different, relaxed side to him off the field. ANDRE HUISAMEN reports.
On Monday afternoon Rabada stood tall and proud next to his father behind the DJ deck of the Red Bulls Studios in Cape Town as Dr Mpho Rabada launched his first-ever single with local gospel artist Motswedi Modiba.
The song Ska Chechella Morago banged out loud around the room with the fast bowler enjoying every rhythm of the beat with a proud smile on his face.
Music runs deep in the Rabada family and according to him and his father it is something they all enjoy participating in.
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For Kagiso, however, it is the perfect method of taking his mind off cricket, whether he’s been in the spotlight for good or bad reasons.
‘Music has always been a part me and my family. It offers something to get away from and think of nothing else and relax a bit. This [newly released single] is something special and something new. It is what life has brought us to and it is quite cool to see.’
For Dr Rabada it is pleasing to have music offer that alternative to him and his family, who all have very busy lifestyle. It is also something that Kagiso’s younger brother, Atlegang, is very interested in.
‘The younger one is bringing us into trap music. It’s just a journey that is exciting. Those moments to spend with your kids and for him [Kagiso] especially, the sport is just full of stress and pressure so this is just part of the recovery,’ said Dr Rabada.
But Kagiso’s social media accounts have regularly given glimpses of his love for certain genres and he is also a very handy DJ himself.
It is something that he has enjoyed for a very long time and the 24-year-old also happy to share this almost obsession with some of his teammates.
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Temba Bavuma has often been pictured with Kagiso making music together in their spare time and the pair don’t shy away from taking the stage at events.
‘Myself and Temba, ever since we started playing at the Lions, enjoy our music. We were at a Standard Bank activations event and there were some decks and we literally played for like an hour. I’ve also played at a Red Bull cart race once and it is quite cool. I’ve got a lot of DJ friends that I chat to till this day,’ says Kagiso.
In the team environment, which ranges from himself to someone like Anrich Nortje, Kagiso is impressed with the variety of music genres the players listen to.
‘Different crowds have their different music and there is nothing wrong with that. But the younger crowd is more versatile and more liberal.’
But, when it comes to the motivational music he listens to in preparation of a match, Kagiso abandons the pop culture for time being and takes a more physiological approach to get him ready and focused.
‘For me to get a lot of inspiration, it comes from African tribal music, that gets me going. It’s like I’m bonding with my ancestors.’
