Youngster hooked on the gentleman’s game

While many young men head to the soccer grounds to watch soccer over weekends. Ntsako Simango carries a bat and leaves for the surburbs to represent Tembisa in cricket.

Many of the sporting grounds that accommodate cricket are mostly situated outside of the Kasi.

The 25-year-old lad was bitten by the cricket bug when he was only 11 year old, while at primary school.

He was introduced to the sport by Jufter Sekomi, who coached him.

At the age of 12 he was able to move to Benoni and play for the Easterns.

He said he went for trials and was chosen to represent Ekurhuleni for four years.

Ntsako regards himself as being a bowling all-rounder.

“A bowling all-rounder is someone who is good at bowling but can also bat,” he said.

He later left the sport for two years, due to the pressures of growing up.

In 2010 he made the decision of going back to the sport and also took coaching lessons.

“I joined the Tembisa cricket club and I never looked back,” he said.

Like many young boys, he tried soccer when he was younger but it never worked out for him.

“I chose this sport because it is a gentlemen’s sport. It teaches discipline,” he said.

According to Ntsako, cricket has kept him off the streets and he believes the game has the potential of moulding young people to become better adults in the future.

“I want to play for our national team one day,” he said.

Ntsako sees himself as a promising, up-and-coming player and a coach, who has a lot to contribute in growing the sport in Tembisa.

“I have a mandate of empowering young people,” he said.

As a coach, he said he is pleased to have been able to take young girls from the dusty fields of Tembisa to play for a provincial team representing Ekurhuleni.

“The girls are playing for the Easterns ladies cricket team,” he said.

Ntsako has eight gold medals, three silver medals and four bronze medals.

He said the medals show his dedication to the sport.