Temba Bavuma is probably by now accustomed to hearing chants of his name on the stands from the legion of his adoring fans as he wields his bat smashing ball after ball towards the boundary.
But the diminutive star Proteas batsman was forced to play second fiddle to a soft-spoken rural boy from Dutywa on Monday whose prowess with the cricket bat during a KFC Mini-Cricket Tournament match solicited cries of “Bavuma” everytime Zusakhe Bhayi, 11, hit a wonderful cricket shot.
The match, dubbed KFC Mini-Cricket Kids versus Proteas Tour, pitted some of the country's well-established cricketers captained by Bavuma which also included the likes of spinners Simon Harmer and Eddie Lee, batsman Mangaliso Mosehle and bowler Keshav Maharaj former South African U19 female cricketers Simone Upman and Marlise Erasmus and current Proteas ladies player and former Border star Ghandi Jafta, against Zamuxolo Junior Secondary School from Dutywa.
Despite putting up a brave fight and managing 37 runs in their seven overs, the much-experienced Proteas were however no match for the lads from Timane village as they easily posted 40 runs with a couple of balls to spare.
But for children like Bhayi who come from a rural area, the match was not so much about them playing cricket, but more about them meeting their heroes. And there are more similarities to Bhayi and Bavuma than meets the eye.
For starters, not only is Bhayi nicknamed after Bavuma but the Grade 3 pupil is also short in stature ,and ferocious with a bat in hand much like his hero as evidenced by the couple of boundaries he managed while at the crease before making way for his other teammates.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch after the game, an excited Bhayi said he could not sleep in the days leading up to the game.
“I was very excited. I managed to shake hands and he greeted me and asked me how I was doing,” said Bhayi.
Interestingly, Zamuxolo team captain Sethu Phethu is nicknamed De Villiers after leading batsman and ODI captain A B de Villiers.
But he also idolised Bavuma and could not wipe the smile off his face after exchanging a few words with the opposing captain.
“He told me that if I worked hard I could go far in this sport just like him,” the youngster bragged to the Dispatch after the game.
Phethu also plays cricket for a local team in his village when not leading the Zamuxolo cricket team.
He said he wanted to reach the pinnacle of the sport just like Bavuma.
On the other hand, Bavuma has praised KFC for the initiative saying he was impressed with the level of talent he had witnessed from the youngsters.
He was also visibly impressed that despite their young age and the fact that they came from a rural area, they still managed to grasp the basics of the sport.
“The talent is there and I believe initiatives like these where they get a chance to play against us are very important in helping them realise that they can also become successful cricket players in the future. It gives them an opportunity to test their skills and grow their talent,” he added.
Meanwhile, Zamuxolo cricket coach Nolukhanyo Fanti said the excitement had been at fever pitch level prior to the game from her young charges.
“Some were battling to sleep counting days before this game and we are just happy to get a chance to play against the Proteas,” the coach said.
Despite the immense talent of her team, Fanti revealed that they did not even have a proper cricket pitch at school and had to use a vacant site near the school.
But the owner of the site was now threatening to turn it into a garden now.
Her assistant coach and former Proteas fast bowler Mfuneko Ngam said the Eastern Cape was brimming with talent. Ngam said initiatives like the KFC Mini-Cricket tournament did not only help with nurturing young talent but had also popularised the sport, especially in the former Transkei region. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
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But the diminutive star Proteas batsman was forced to play second fiddle to a soft-spoken rural boy from Dutywa on Monday whose prowess with the cricket bat during a KFC Mini-Cricket Tournament match solicited cries of “Bavuma” everytime Zusakhe Bhayi, 11, hit a wonderful cricket shot.
The match, dubbed KFC Mini-Cricket Kids versus Proteas Tour, pitted some of the country's well-established cricketers captained by Bavuma which also included the likes of spinners Simon Harmer and Eddie Lee, batsman Mangaliso Mosehle and bowler Keshav Maharaj former South African U19 female cricketers Simone Upman and Marlise Erasmus and current Proteas ladies player and former Border star Ghandi Jafta, against Zamuxolo Junior Secondary School from Dutywa.
Despite putting up a brave fight and managing 37 runs in their seven overs, the much-experienced Proteas were however no match for the lads from Timane village as they easily posted 40 runs with a couple of balls to spare.
But for children like Bhayi who come from a rural area, the match was not so much about them playing cricket, but more about them meeting their heroes. And there are more similarities to Bhayi and Bavuma than meets the eye.
For starters, not only is Bhayi nicknamed after Bavuma but the Grade 3 pupil is also short in stature ,and ferocious with a bat in hand much like his hero as evidenced by the couple of boundaries he managed while at the crease before making way for his other teammates.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch after the game, an excited Bhayi said he could not sleep in the days leading up to the game.
“I was very excited. I managed to shake hands and he greeted me and asked me how I was doing,” said Bhayi.
Interestingly, Zamuxolo team captain Sethu Phethu is nicknamed De Villiers after leading batsman and ODI captain A B de Villiers.
But he also idolised Bavuma and could not wipe the smile off his face after exchanging a few words with the opposing captain.
“He told me that if I worked hard I could go far in this sport just like him,” the youngster bragged to the Dispatch after the game.
Phethu also plays cricket for a local team in his village when not leading the Zamuxolo cricket team.
He said he wanted to reach the pinnacle of the sport just like Bavuma.
On the other hand, Bavuma has praised KFC for the initiative saying he was impressed with the level of talent he had witnessed from the youngsters.
He was also visibly impressed that despite their young age and the fact that they came from a rural area, they still managed to grasp the basics of the sport.
“The talent is there and I believe initiatives like these where they get a chance to play against us are very important in helping them realise that they can also become successful cricket players in the future. It gives them an opportunity to test their skills and grow their talent,” he added.
Meanwhile, Zamuxolo cricket coach Nolukhanyo Fanti said the excitement had been at fever pitch level prior to the game from her young charges.
“Some were battling to sleep counting days before this game and we are just happy to get a chance to play against the Proteas,” the coach said.
Despite the immense talent of her team, Fanti revealed that they did not even have a proper cricket pitch at school and had to use a vacant site near the school.
But the owner of the site was now threatening to turn it into a garden now.
Her assistant coach and former Proteas fast bowler Mfuneko Ngam said the Eastern Cape was brimming with talent. Ngam said initiatives like the KFC Mini-Cricket tournament did not only help with nurturing young talent but had also popularised the sport, especially in the former Transkei region. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
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