Qeshile is set for hot cauldron

Fast rising cricket talent Sinethemba Qeshile will take charge of the Border team for their Africa Cup T20 competition campaign over the coming week.

Former Hudson Park High School pupil Qeshile has enjoyed a meteoric rise to the upper echelons of cricket in the country after only matriculating in 2017.

He made his semi-pro debut for Border in January 2018, and in the 2018-19 season he enjoyed his first season on the professional cricket stage, where he played superbly for the Warriors, made his Proteas debut and was named Cricket South Africa’s domestic Newcomer of the Season.

He now faces arguably his biggest challenge as captain of a semi-professional side at just 20 years of age, although he will be no stranger to captaining, having captained the Hudson first team for three years as well as the Border U19 Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week team.

“This is one of the biggest challenges that I have had, captaining a senior provincial side for the first time, so I am really looking forward to the challenges ahead,” said Qeshile.

“I have captained before at junior levels, but this is completely different, so I am going into this with open eyes and I am ready to learn as much as I can from this.”

Qeshile has not featured for the Border team in over a year. After making his first few appearances for the side he was quickly brought into the Warriors set-up, where he established himself in no time and has basically played all of his cricket, bar his performances for the Proteas and SA ‘A’ ‘teams.

So he may take a moment to settle back into the system.

“I think with me having not played many senior provincial games with Border, at the first session I will need to have a word with some of the guys and see what their views are and what they prefer doing in game situations, so I can get a better idea of how to go about my captaincy,” said Qeshile.

He will be backed up by a strong Warriors contingent featuring Yaseen Vallie, Gihahn Cloete, Sisanda Magala and Aya Gqamane, who’s experience will be invaluable to Qeshile.

Another familiar face will also be coach Mfuneko Ngam, who was assistant coach at the Warriors during Qeshile’s first season, and the understanding between the two should also be a boost to the side.

“It is a big bonus for us. We have a lot of franchise guys in our squad and it is really helpful for me if I need any advice from the guys I know who to go to, and we have a good amount of experience in our squad, which is always good,” said Qeshile.

“We (Ngam) have been together for quite some time since last season, and he knows what I expect from the guys and we understand each other, so I think our relationship is quite good.”

Last year Border made the final of the Africa Cup T20, where they went down to Gauteng, and the team will be eager to do as well or even better this time round.

“Obviously we want to finish top of our pool by the end of the weekend, but what I am looking for from the guys is just to play some simple cricket, do the basics right and I feel the results will then look after themselves,” said Qeshile.

“There will also be lots of expectation and pressure after Border made the final last year, but we just have to take it game by game and progress from there.”

Border’s Africa Cup T20 campaign gets under way in Potchefstroom on Friday morning against Mpumalanga.