PHALABORWA – Proteas women’s coach Mandla Mashimbyi received a hero’s welcome on Saturday, November 22.

The homecoming celebration was hosted by Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality Mayor Merriam Malatji and took place at the Foskor Sport Ground in Namakgale and the Majeje High School Sport Ground in Lulekani, where Mashimbyi was born and raised.

The celebration followed his remarkable achievement of leading the national women’s team to the ICC World Cup final in India earlier this month, just a year after taking up the top coaching job.

Although the Proteas fell short in the final, bowled out for 246 in 45.3 overs in response to India’s 298/7, South Africans remain immensely proud of the team’s performance.

Malatji praised Mashimbyi for his impact both locally and nationally. “Coach Mashimbyi has truly renewed hope and ignited the spirit of sport in Phalaborwa.

His success story inspires our children, even those in our most rural villages, to believe they too can play cricket and achieve at the highest level,” she said.

Visibly moved by the warm reception, Mashimbyi expressed his gratitude.

“I am humbled by the overwhelming support from the municipality and the community at large. It took me 30 years to achieve my dreams, and I want to use this homecoming to inspire our youth to dream big and pursue their passions relentlessly,” he said.

The small mining community rallied behind him throughout the World Cup.

On the day of the final, residents, together with Malatji, gathered at the Mashimbyi family home in Lulekani to watch the match on a big screen hired for the occasion.

During the homecoming event, young cricketers received cricket equipment donated municipality and the Department of Sport.