Rising women’s cricket talent Sinalo Jafta received the biggest nod of her budding career when she was called up to represent the Proteas against New Zealand late last month.
The former Stirling High School pupil played in the last two games of the seven match series against the visitors, with South Africa winning the match on her debut and then losing the last game to go down 5-2 overall in the series.
“I honestly felt all the emotions all at once, like the hard work and dedication is now all coming together,” said Jafta.
“But receiving the phone call to say that you’re selected to represent your country is honestly the best feeling I can ever ask for.”
In both games Jafta kept wicket, while she unfortunately went out for a duck on debut, however it mattered little as the Proteas won by five wickets.
In the final match she also struggled a bit with the bat, going out for eight, as the Proteas lost by 126 runs.
“Behind the stumps I felt like this is where I belong, I loved every minute of it, but with the bat there is still a lot of work to be done,” admitted Jaftta.
“I will treasure my debut and that moment when we won the match for the rest of my life, it was a really good day.”
“The second game was then a learning curve for me, I felt a little more comfortable with the bat, but there is still a lot of work to be done.”
The Butterworth born 21-year-old’s rise to the Proteas ranks came after a break out year where she was selected to represent the SA Emerging team earlier in the year.
She featured in two one-day matches for the team against England in February, and then one match against New Zealand in early October before they began the series against the Proteas.
“I remember my friend actually congratulating me just after Christmas when I got announced to the Powerade National Academy squad and being so overwhelmed, because my coach Francois ‘VD’ Merwe always told me to work hard and that my time would come,” said Jafta.
“Then in the beginning of January I got invited to the Protea Women’s Camp which I gained so much knowledge and I remember the coach Hilton Moreeng telling me to just be patient and put my head down and graft.”
“I took those words very seriously, I worked hard on my fitness and improving my batting and wicket keeping skills.”
Jafta’s cricket career began in Grade 8 after finishing primary school at Komga Junior School and moving on to attend Stirling High School.
“I always used to play with the boys in primary school and one teacher told me that girls will never play cricket, so I was on a mission to just prove him wrong,” said Jafta.
“I really loved the sport and during their home games, I’d sit and watch the whole day.”
“Stirling then offered girls cricket and I had to give it a try.”
She immediately made an impression and by the following year was noticed by the Border selectors and in 2009 at the age of 15 Jafta was picked for the Border U19 side.
She went on to represent the Border U19 for four years until she matriculated in 2012 and subsequently moved on to Potchefstroom in 2013 to attend North West University, where she was selected to play for the North West women’s cricket team.
“I moved here because I was offered a Sports Bursary for hockey, because at the time I was an SA Schools hockey player and I thought that my cricket ambitions were over,” explained Jafta.
“But I made the North West team that year and have played for them since.”
Now that Jafta has made her full senior debut the future looks bright for her.
“I just want to keep working hard and be a good role model for the young girls coming up in the system,” said Jafta.
Jafta ready to make her mark
The former Stirling High School pupil played in the last two games of the seven match series against the visitors, with South Africa winning the match on her debut and then losing the last game to go down 5-2 overall in the series.
“I honestly felt all the emotions all at once, like the hard work and dedication is now all coming together,” said Jafta.
“But receiving the phone call to say that you’re selected to represent your country is honestly the best feeling I can ever ask for.”
In both games Jafta kept wicket, while she unfortunately went out for a duck on debut, however it mattered little as the Proteas won by five wickets.
In the final match she also struggled a bit with the bat, going out for eight, as the Proteas lost by 126 runs.
“Behind the stumps I felt like this is where I belong, I loved every minute of it, but with the bat there is still a lot of work to be done,” admitted Jaftta.
“I will treasure my debut and that moment when we won the match for the rest of my life, it was a really good day.”
“The second game was then a learning curve for me, I felt a little more comfortable with the bat, but there is still a lot of work to be done.”
The Butterworth born 21-year-old’s rise to the Proteas ranks came after a break out year where she was selected to represent the SA Emerging team earlier in the year.
She featured in two one-day matches for the team against England in February, and then one match against New Zealand in early October before they began the series against the Proteas.
“I remember my friend actually congratulating me just after Christmas when I got announced to the Powerade National Academy squad and being so overwhelmed, because my coach Francois ‘VD’ Merwe always told me to work hard and that my time would come,” said Jafta.
“Then in the beginning of January I got invited to the Protea Women’s Camp which I gained so much knowledge and I remember the coach Hilton Moreeng telling me to just be patient and put my head down and graft.”
“I took those words very seriously, I worked hard on my fitness and improving my batting and wicket keeping skills.”
Jafta’s cricket career began in Grade 8 after finishing primary school at Komga Junior School and moving on to attend Stirling High School.
“I always used to play with the boys in primary school and one teacher told me that girls will never play cricket, so I was on a mission to just prove him wrong,” said Jafta.
“I really loved the sport and during their home games, I’d sit and watch the whole day.”
“Stirling then offered girls cricket and I had to give it a try.”
She immediately made an impression and by the following year was noticed by the Border selectors and in 2009 at the age of 15 Jafta was picked for the Border U19 side.
She went on to represent the Border U19 for four years until she matriculated in 2012 and subsequently moved on to Potchefstroom in 2013 to attend North West University, where she was selected to play for the North West women’s cricket team.
“I moved here because I was offered a Sports Bursary for hockey, because at the time I was an SA Schools hockey player and I thought that my cricket ambitions were over,” explained Jafta.
“But I made the North West team that year and have played for them since.”
Now that Jafta has made her full senior debut the future looks bright for her.
“I just want to keep working hard and be a good role model for the young girls coming up in the system,” said Jafta.
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