School-going Heingo facing a tough cricket test

At a time when his classmates are taking baby steps to crack the final examinations back home later this year, fast-rising Namibia medium-pacer Max Heingo is facing one of cricket’s toughest shortest-format tests at the T20 World Cup.

The 17-year-old Heingo, who cleared the Class XI exams as a student of the Flamingo Secondary School in Walvis Bay last year, has been given special exemption after being called up to ‘feel the thrill’ of the T20 extravaganza.

“After writing my Grade XI final exams, I did not have time to manage school because I got selected for the World Cup. But when I go back to Namibia, I will surely continue with my school work,” Heingo, one of the youngest players to feature in the global tournament, told The Hindu here.

While Heingo has found the going tough on the field so far, he any day prefers going toe-to-toe with the crème de la crème of cricket over tackling board exams. “I would definitely choose playing international cricket over clearing my final exams. I am not really that smart with school work. I am more of a sports guy.”

Not just another teen

Heingo is clearly not just another teenager in Namibia; he is already inspiring those around him with his meteoric rise to the elite level.

“On the day I told my friends that I was picked for the T20 World Cup, they were really happy for me. For them, it was unbelievable. But for me, it was believable because I always believed in myself. I actually knew what was coming for me. My uncle has always motivated me to give my best, and I took that into consideration,” added Heingo.

Next on his agenda: learning the tough lessons, answering out-of-syllabus questions and passing the upcoming cricket tests with flying colours.