In life in general, there is an unwritten law about how adults are warned never to mess with children.
But that lesson came too late for an accomplished Proteas cricket side who were outsmarted, outran, out-thought and even outbowled by a bunch of talented budding cricketers from Lugxogxo Junior Secondary School in the Tabase area, one of the most rural places around Mthatha.
Represented by first-class cricketers in the form of seasoned internationals like captain Mangaliso Mosehle, Khaya Zondo, Aaron Phangiso, Beauran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, Ayabonga Khaka and Raisibe Ntozakhe, the Proteas team descended on Mthatha yesterday to take on their virtually unknown opponents in the form of Lugxogxo Junior Secondary’s cricket team.
The match formed part of the KFC Mini-Cricket Kids versus Proteas Tour cricket match played at the Khaya Majola Oval Stadium in sweltering temperature.
Despite their favourite tag, the visiting Proteas side found the going tough against their young opponents led by “Captain Marvellous” – 12-year-old Grade 6 pupil Athini Mamkeli. And to say the Proteas were taught a cricketing lesson would really be an understatement. They were left completely dumbfounded by the abilities of the youngsters.
With the fiercely competitive Mamkeli winning the toss and electing to bowl first, the Proteas could only muster 51 runs after the eight overs.
Lugxogxo Kids, started brightly and smashed several balls over the specially-prepared stadium. However at the end of eight overs, they had also managed 51 runs which forced the game into a “special” ninth over to decide the winner.
And that is when all hell broke loose, or simply put, when Captain Marvellous really put his foot in it.
After watching his side register 12 runs to take their overall tally to 63, Mamkeli took two wickets in quick succession.
In the end the fancied Proteas could only muster seven runs effectively handing over the victory to the young Lugxogxo lads.
Even former Proteas captain Graeme Smith, who helped prepare the Lugxogxo team for the match, could not contain his amazement at their cricketing abilities.
“The talent this kids have is amazing and I thoroughly enjoyed myself,” he said after the game.
“They have a real understanding of the game and I hope one day some will go on to achieve something special.”
He said he was particularly impressed at how they had easily mastered the art of bowling, batting and even fielding.
Reeza Hendricks also praised the youngsters for their fielding while lauding the KFC Mini-Cricket initiative for giving them an opportunity to test themselves.
Phangiso meanwhile said the Lugxogxo cricketers were the best he had seen by far since the initiative started this year.
“Their fielding was just top standard, their bowling just on another level. Whoever is teaching them cricket is really doing a good job.”
Zondo said the way the kids from Lugxogxo hit the ball was just amazing.
“There is definitely potential in this place,” he added.
A beaming Mamkeli who cited Proteas batsman Hashim Amla as his inspiration, said he hoped to also one day wear the national cricket team jersey. “I love this sport.”
His equally proud coach Thandazile Kundla who has been coaching cricket in Lugxogxo since 1998, said the cricket bug was starting to bite every youngster in the Tabase village.
“The fruits are starting to show. We have around 60 children playing cricket at school and Mamkeli is one of the most talented ones,” she said.
Despite her team's incredible achievement yesterday, Kundla revealed that the team did not have a proper pitch to train on nor any cricket nets.
As a result they have to transport the children all the way to the Khaya Majola Stadium for practice — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
‘Captain Marvellous’ rallies his troops
But that lesson came too late for an accomplished Proteas cricket side who were outsmarted, outran, out-thought and even outbowled by a bunch of talented budding cricketers from Lugxogxo Junior Secondary School in the Tabase area, one of the most rural places around Mthatha.
Represented by first-class cricketers in the form of seasoned internationals like captain Mangaliso Mosehle, Khaya Zondo, Aaron Phangiso, Beauran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, Ayabonga Khaka and Raisibe Ntozakhe, the Proteas team descended on Mthatha yesterday to take on their virtually unknown opponents in the form of Lugxogxo Junior Secondary’s cricket team.
The match formed part of the KFC Mini-Cricket Kids versus Proteas Tour cricket match played at the Khaya Majola Oval Stadium in sweltering temperature.
Despite their favourite tag, the visiting Proteas side found the going tough against their young opponents led by “Captain Marvellous” – 12-year-old Grade 6 pupil Athini Mamkeli. And to say the Proteas were taught a cricketing lesson would really be an understatement. They were left completely dumbfounded by the abilities of the youngsters.
With the fiercely competitive Mamkeli winning the toss and electing to bowl first, the Proteas could only muster 51 runs after the eight overs.
Lugxogxo Kids, started brightly and smashed several balls over the specially-prepared stadium. However at the end of eight overs, they had also managed 51 runs which forced the game into a “special” ninth over to decide the winner.
And that is when all hell broke loose, or simply put, when Captain Marvellous really put his foot in it.
After watching his side register 12 runs to take their overall tally to 63, Mamkeli took two wickets in quick succession.
In the end the fancied Proteas could only muster seven runs effectively handing over the victory to the young Lugxogxo lads.
Even former Proteas captain Graeme Smith, who helped prepare the Lugxogxo team for the match, could not contain his amazement at their cricketing abilities.
“The talent this kids have is amazing and I thoroughly enjoyed myself,” he said after the game.
“They have a real understanding of the game and I hope one day some will go on to achieve something special.”
He said he was particularly impressed at how they had easily mastered the art of bowling, batting and even fielding.
Reeza Hendricks also praised the youngsters for their fielding while lauding the KFC Mini-Cricket initiative for giving them an opportunity to test themselves.
Phangiso meanwhile said the Lugxogxo cricketers were the best he had seen by far since the initiative started this year.
“Their fielding was just top standard, their bowling just on another level. Whoever is teaching them cricket is really doing a good job.”
Zondo said the way the kids from Lugxogxo hit the ball was just amazing.
“There is definitely potential in this place,” he added.
A beaming Mamkeli who cited Proteas batsman Hashim Amla as his inspiration, said he hoped to also one day wear the national cricket team jersey. “I love this sport.”
His equally proud coach Thandazile Kundla who has been coaching cricket in Lugxogxo since 1998, said the cricket bug was starting to bite every youngster in the Tabase village.
“The fruits are starting to show. We have around 60 children playing cricket at school and Mamkeli is one of the most talented ones,” she said.
Despite her team's incredible achievement yesterday, Kundla revealed that the team did not have a proper pitch to train on nor any cricket nets.
As a result they have to transport the children all the way to the Khaya Majola Stadium for practice — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
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