Border schools stars Akhona Mnyaka and Jason Niemand, along with former Border schools star Thando Ntini have been named in the Coca-Cola South Africa U19 squad that will take on England and Namibia in a Triangular series starting next month.
Niemand and Mnyaka, who both attend Hudson Park High School and Ntini, who was at Selborne College before moving down to Wynberg in the Western Cape this year, have all played for the U19s before.
They will be eager to continue impressing in the set-up as the series will be one of the last opportunities for selectors to have a look at possible picks ahead of the ICC U19 World Cup due to take place in New Zealand in early 2018.
“We are very chuffed and excited to see these three youngsters back in the South African U19 team,” said Border amateur manager Deon Muller.
“These guys are all products of the Border system and have excelled at their schools and in the Border age group sides for many years and fully deserve to be in the side.
“I believe that they all have a chance to make the World Cup team next year and they have the chance to show what they can do in the coming series.”
Ntini, the son of Proteas legend Makhaya Ntini, recently made his debut for the SA U19s in their series against the West Indies in July and put in some sparkling performances.
Mnyaka and Niemand last played for the U19s in February this year during the triangular series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
Both players (Mnyaka and Niemand) subsequently went on to make their Border senior team debuts and are now a big part of that set-up.
“Akhona and Jason have broken into the Border senior team set-up, Akhona played in the recent Africa Cup T20 and Jason is in the squad for this weekend’s one day, so they are very talented players,” said Muller.
“Thando was a very promising player when he was still here and he has continued to do well since moving down to Wynberg.
“But we are very proud of the boys and I believe that they will give their 100% and be fully committed to perform for the U19s.”
Raynard van Tonder will captain the young team for the second time in the five-match Youth One-Day International (ODI) series and is looking forward to another opportunity to lead from the front.
U19 coach Lawrence Mahatlane believes that they have found the right balance as well as the sweet spot between youth and experience and is looking forward to seeing how this team goes.
“I’m really happy with the squad that has been put together by the selection panel,” he said.
“I feel we’ve got the right personnel for all the different scenarios and a group of really fired up youngsters. The series is going to be another tough task for the guys and the way we apply ourselves and our skills will be the key.
“There’s obviously a lot to play for, considering that we leave for the U19 World Cup in the first week of January next year, but for me right now, it’s about winning this series and making sure that we’ve laid the right groundwork for the Tests that are still to come before we head out.”
The coach is optimistic of his team’s chances in the triangular and is pleased with the hunger shown by individuals during camps held in the last few months.
“It bodes well for the team. I’ve seen how hungry they are when we get together for our sessions and the positive direction they have taken in the intervening months,” he said.
Coca-Cola South Africa U19s Youth ODI squad: Raynard van Tonder (capt, Free State), Matthew Breetzke (Eastern Province), Jean du Plessis (South Western Districts), Jason Niemand (Border), Gerard Coetzee (Free State), Jade de Klerk (Eastern Province), Fraser Jones (KZN Inland), Wandile Makwetu (Gauteng), Andile Mogakane (KZN Coastal), Kgaudise Molefe (Gauteng), Jacob Miltz (Gauteng), Thando Ntini (Western Province), Jiveshen Pillay (Northerns), Hermann Rolfes (Northerns), Kenan Smith (Eastern Province), Mondli Khumalo (KZN Coastal), Akhona Mnyaka (Border).
National call-ups for Border’s trio
Niemand and Mnyaka, who both attend Hudson Park High School and Ntini, who was at Selborne College before moving down to Wynberg in the Western Cape this year, have all played for the U19s before.
They will be eager to continue impressing in the set-up as the series will be one of the last opportunities for selectors to have a look at possible picks ahead of the ICC U19 World Cup due to take place in New Zealand in early 2018.
“We are very chuffed and excited to see these three youngsters back in the South African U19 team,” said Border amateur manager Deon Muller.
“These guys are all products of the Border system and have excelled at their schools and in the Border age group sides for many years and fully deserve to be in the side.
“I believe that they all have a chance to make the World Cup team next year and they have the chance to show what they can do in the coming series.”
Ntini, the son of Proteas legend Makhaya Ntini, recently made his debut for the SA U19s in their series against the West Indies in July and put in some sparkling performances.
Mnyaka and Niemand last played for the U19s in February this year during the triangular series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
Both players (Mnyaka and Niemand) subsequently went on to make their Border senior team debuts and are now a big part of that set-up.
“Akhona and Jason have broken into the Border senior team set-up, Akhona played in the recent Africa Cup T20 and Jason is in the squad for this weekend’s one day, so they are very talented players,” said Muller.
“Thando was a very promising player when he was still here and he has continued to do well since moving down to Wynberg.
“But we are very proud of the boys and I believe that they will give their 100% and be fully committed to perform for the U19s.”
Raynard van Tonder will captain the young team for the second time in the five-match Youth One-Day International (ODI) series and is looking forward to another opportunity to lead from the front.
U19 coach Lawrence Mahatlane believes that they have found the right balance as well as the sweet spot between youth and experience and is looking forward to seeing how this team goes.
“I’m really happy with the squad that has been put together by the selection panel,” he said.
“I feel we’ve got the right personnel for all the different scenarios and a group of really fired up youngsters. The series is going to be another tough task for the guys and the way we apply ourselves and our skills will be the key.
“There’s obviously a lot to play for, considering that we leave for the U19 World Cup in the first week of January next year, but for me right now, it’s about winning this series and making sure that we’ve laid the right groundwork for the Tests that are still to come before we head out.”
The coach is optimistic of his team’s chances in the triangular and is pleased with the hunger shown by individuals during camps held in the last few months.
“It bodes well for the team. I’ve seen how hungry they are when we get together for our sessions and the positive direction they have taken in the intervening months,” he said.
Coca-Cola South Africa U19s Youth ODI squad: Raynard van Tonder (capt, Free State), Matthew Breetzke (Eastern Province), Jean du Plessis (South Western Districts), Jason Niemand (Border), Gerard Coetzee (Free State), Jade de Klerk (Eastern Province), Fraser Jones (KZN Inland), Wandile Makwetu (Gauteng), Andile Mogakane (KZN Coastal), Kgaudise Molefe (Gauteng), Jacob Miltz (Gauteng), Thando Ntini (Western Province), Jiveshen Pillay (Northerns), Hermann Rolfes (Northerns), Kenan Smith (Eastern Province), Mondli Khumalo (KZN Coastal), Akhona Mnyaka (Border).
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