MC Weiler learners noisily welcome cricket trophy

Learners at MC Weiler Primary School could hardly hold their horses when the 15th edition of the International Cricket Council’s U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024 trophy landed at their school on February 7.

Currently taking place in South Africa from January 19 to February 11, the trophy was noisily welcomed at the Alex school by uncontrollably excited learners, some of whom are prodigies of the KFC Mini-Cricket development programme that runs at the Alexandra Cricket Oval.

School principal Flaki Ramothata had a tough time calming down the noisy learners and urged them to ‘hold your horses as you will get to jaiva once we have welcomed the visitors and the programme begins’. “I know you are excited by the atmosphere of the trophy around us but calm down for now,” she said in her numerous interjections to control the learners.

Alex-born Wanele Mngomezulu who is the director of the U19 World Cup, and son of the late founder of Nokuthula LSN School Connie Mngomezulu, said the trophy had been nicknamed ‘Themba’ which translates to hope.
“It is this hope we have that one day, one or more of you learners will emerge as our cricket heroes of the future. You may not all play cricket but we also work closely with doctors, accountants and lawyers in the game,” he added.

Mngomezulu said he looked forward to the Temba Bavumas, the Kagiso Rabadas and the Raisibe Ntozakhes of this world being birthed in Alexandra to set the cricket world ablaze.

Lions Cricket Services manager Reuben Mandlazi urged the school to do more to ensure many more children play cricket. “We must ignite the cricket fire at the primary school level so they grow up with the sport,” Mandlazi said.

Cricket South Africa public affairs executive Refentse Shinners implored the community to look after their cricket facilities if they want to see their children grow up to become top cricketers.

“It is from these facilities that talented Alex female cricketer Raisibe Ntozakhe carved her career. We have another promising young man from your neck of the woods, Sipho Potsane, whom we consider as a Proteas cricketer in the making,” said Shinners.

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