Excitement reached fever pitch in the little town of Port St Johns yesterday after it was announced that Nomandi Junior Secondary School cricketers will be taking on the Proteas next week.It will be part of this year’s mini-cricket Kids versus Proteas tour and will see some of South Africa’s best cricketers, currently not on tour in India, come up against the school’s mini cricket team.
Wayne Parnel, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, David Wiese and Marchant De Lange will be the representatives from the men’s side while Mignon du Preez, Marcia Letsoalo, Ayabonga Khakha and Zintle Mali represent the ladies.
The official hand over was made at the school yesterday by former Proteas fast bowler and current head of the Fort Hare cricket academy Mfuneko Ngam, who then led the team in a training session in preparation for next week’s match.
Their headmaster and coach Thabani Ngqasa entered the school for the competition.
“Last year I entered the competition and unfortunately we didn’t win and this year I decided to try again, but I knew the chances would be small because there are so many schools entering,” said Ngqasa.
Mini-cricket coordinator for the Kei region Aphilile Mapekula was also in attendance at the hand over and was happy to see a team from the region would be playing the Proteas.
“I am very excited. This is the first time in the Kei region that players from a school here will be playing against their heroes,” said Mapekula.
“Having the Proteas here will have a positive impact on cricket in the region and it will inspire other schools to get involved and play mini-cricket.”
With the match being played next week Thursday the players will be practising flat out for the match which should be the highlight of their cricketing year.
“They have been playing competitively all year and we played a tournament in July which we won so I think they will do very well,” said Ngqasa.
As news of the match spreads around the town and to surrounding areas interest is set to grow and it should lead to a festival atmosphere.
“Some other schools from the area have already said they will be coming down with a few players to watch the match,” said Ngqasa.
“Having the Proteas playing here will only improve the level of cricket and get more kids interested.”
Nomandi ready to mix it up with Proteas
It will be part of this year’s mini-cricket Kids versus Proteas tour and will see some of South Africa’s best cricketers, currently not on tour in India, come up against the school’s mini cricket team.
Wayne Parnel, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, David Wiese and Marchant De Lange will be the representatives from the men’s side while Mignon du Preez, Marcia Letsoalo, Ayabonga Khakha and Zintle Mali represent the ladies.
The official hand over was made at the school yesterday by former Proteas fast bowler and current head of the Fort Hare cricket academy Mfuneko Ngam, who then led the team in a training session in preparation for next week’s match.
Their headmaster and coach Thabani Ngqasa entered the school for the competition.
“Last year I entered the competition and unfortunately we didn’t win and this year I decided to try again, but I knew the chances would be small because there are so many schools entering,” said Ngqasa.
Mini-cricket coordinator for the Kei region Aphilile Mapekula was also in attendance at the hand over and was happy to see a team from the region would be playing the Proteas.
“I am very excited. This is the first time in the Kei region that players from a school here will be playing against their heroes,” said Mapekula.
“Having the Proteas here will have a positive impact on cricket in the region and it will inspire other schools to get involved and play mini-cricket.”
With the match being played next week Thursday the players will be practising flat out for the match which should be the highlight of their cricketing year.
“They have been playing competitively all year and we played a tournament in July which we won so I think they will do very well,” said Ngqasa.
As news of the match spreads around the town and to surrounding areas interest is set to grow and it should lead to a festival atmosphere.
“Some other schools from the area have already said they will be coming down with a few players to watch the match,” said Ngqasa.
“Having the Proteas playing here will only improve the level of cricket and get more kids interested.”
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