21-year-old Tembisa woman teaches young girls cricket
Young woman is determined to take girls off the street and onto the cricket pitch.
A young lady takes it upon herself to introduce girls to cricket in Tembisa.
Nelisiwe Madondo said many girls do not know cricket can also be played by women.
Madondo plays for Tembisa Cricket Club, but she takes some time to take girls off the streets and teach them how to play the sport. Every Friday the 21-year-old teaches cricket skills to excited girls from different disadvantaged areas.
“I was inspired by Ayabonga Khaka to join the sport myself. I once saw her being interviewed on TV and I started doing research about other women in cricket. I found there are women playing the sport at club level and decided to join the sport,” said Madondo.
She said she started playing cricket in 2014 after she approached a head coach of Tembisa Cricket Club.
“I want the sport to grow among women in Tembisa. People are always focusing in other sporting codes like netball and soccer. Women are not aware that they can build a career in cricket, they think it is a white man sport or it is a sport for rich people,” said Madondo.
She said she needs more girls to join her club by calling her on 078 295 9104.
Madondo said she wants to see her team of girls producing women players who will play in the provincial side and for South Africa.
“I want to encourage parents to support their girls who want to play cricket. This will take them off the streets and away from doing wrong things, like substance abuse,” said Madondo.
She appealed to the community to support her girls, especially when they have games the community must come and watch at Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park.
Madondo also asked businesses to assist them with appropriate sporting equipment and sport gear.
