A strong Border team flies out to Potchefstroom today as they bid to take on the country’s best in the Africa T20 Challenge.
It is also the beginning of a new reign as former vice-captain Jerry Nqolo begins his journey as Border captain after the retirement of former long-serving captain Abongile Sodumo last month.
“We have a good and well-balanced team going up. We are covered in all departments and I am confident in the players we have,” said Border coach Frank Plaatjes.
“It is going to be a hard tournament and we will be aiming to do the best we can.”
The competition enters its second weekend tomorrow after the tournament opened this past weekend, with Northerns becoming the first team to qualify for next month’s semifinals.
Border will be up against Boland, KwaZulu-Natal Inland and North West, and the four teams will be battling it out for top spot on the log, which will see that team qualify for the semis.
Border will be up against some impressive talent with Protea alums North West’s Aaron Phangiso, KZN Inland’s Kyle Abbott and Boland’s Robin Peterson leading the charge for their teams.
“We have had a chat about our opposition and we will have plans in place when it comes to game time,” said Plaatjes.
Border, however, will have reason to be optimistic with a nice blend of experience and youth in their lineup.
Warriors regulars Somila Seyibokwe, Aya Gqamane, Lundi Mbane and Christiaan Jonker will be looking to keep up their good form that sees them represent the Eastern Cape’s premier team, while Darryl Brown, who made himself an integral part of the Warriors end-of-season run and Gionne Koopman, who made his Warriors debut last season, will want to keep themselves on the radar with good performances.
Captain Nqolo, Marco Marais, Jongile Kilani, Phaphama Fojela and Brandon Williams were stalwarts of Border’s successful one-day cup run and will be looking to take that good form into the new season.
New Warriors signing and exciting young wicketkeeper-batsman Clyde Fortuin will be looking to make his mark as he will be playing for Border this year when not on Warriors duty, and the former SA U19 World Cup winning star will be aiming for a good start to the season.
Loyiso Mdashe has been a part of the Border set-up, but will be stepping up as a regular member of the Border senior team this season and he will be aiming to impress this weekend.
With the array of talent they have Border will be hoping for a good start to their season which could kickstart a successful 2015-16 campaign.
“We are quietly confident and I just want the players to enjoy the occasion,” said Plaatjes.
Border will be playing two matches on Saturday and one on Sunday.
Border 13-man squad: Jerry Nqolo (capt), Clyde Fortuin, Somila Seyibokwe, Gionne Koopman, Christiaan Jonker, Ayabulela Gqamane, Darryl Brown, Marco Marais, Jongile Kilani, Phaphama Fojela, Loyiso Mdashe, Brandon Williams, Lundi Mbane
Border to shake it up in the opening gambit
It is also the beginning of a new reign as former vice-captain Jerry Nqolo begins his journey as Border captain after the retirement of former long-serving captain Abongile Sodumo last month.
“We have a good and well-balanced team going up. We are covered in all departments and I am confident in the players we have,” said Border coach Frank Plaatjes.
“It is going to be a hard tournament and we will be aiming to do the best we can.”
The competition enters its second weekend tomorrow after the tournament opened this past weekend, with Northerns becoming the first team to qualify for next month’s semifinals.
Border will be up against Boland, KwaZulu-Natal Inland and North West, and the four teams will be battling it out for top spot on the log, which will see that team qualify for the semis.
Border will be up against some impressive talent with Protea alums North West’s Aaron Phangiso, KZN Inland’s Kyle Abbott and Boland’s Robin Peterson leading the charge for their teams.
“We have had a chat about our opposition and we will have plans in place when it comes to game time,” said Plaatjes.
Border, however, will have reason to be optimistic with a nice blend of experience and youth in their lineup.
Warriors regulars Somila Seyibokwe, Aya Gqamane, Lundi Mbane and Christiaan Jonker will be looking to keep up their good form that sees them represent the Eastern Cape’s premier team, while Darryl Brown, who made himself an integral part of the Warriors end-of-season run and Gionne Koopman, who made his Warriors debut last season, will want to keep themselves on the radar with good performances.
Captain Nqolo, Marco Marais, Jongile Kilani, Phaphama Fojela and Brandon Williams were stalwarts of Border’s successful one-day cup run and will be looking to take that good form into the new season.
New Warriors signing and exciting young wicketkeeper-batsman Clyde Fortuin will be looking to make his mark as he will be playing for Border this year when not on Warriors duty, and the former SA U19 World Cup winning star will be aiming for a good start to the season.
Loyiso Mdashe has been a part of the Border set-up, but will be stepping up as a regular member of the Border senior team this season and he will be aiming to impress this weekend.
With the array of talent they have Border will be hoping for a good start to their season which could kickstart a successful 2015-16 campaign.
“We are quietly confident and I just want the players to enjoy the occasion,” said Plaatjes.
Border will be playing two matches on Saturday and one on Sunday.
Border 13-man squad: Jerry Nqolo (capt), Clyde Fortuin, Somila Seyibokwe, Gionne Koopman, Christiaan Jonker, Ayabulela Gqamane, Darryl Brown, Marco Marais, Jongile Kilani, Phaphama Fojela, Loyiso Mdashe, Brandon Williams, Lundi Mbane
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