Lowveld cricketers excel in Durban

Six talented young cricketers of the Lowveld recently excelled in the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week at Kearsney College.

January 13, 2014

Carli Koch 2 minutes read

The Mpumalanga team played four games of which they won one, lost one and two were abandoned due to rain.
Jason Chandler (Penryn), Dean Carlisle (Uplands), Simon Geldenhuys (Nelspruit), Siyabonga Mahima (Lowveld High), Matthew Nepgen (Uplands) and Nkosi Mbendulu (Rob Ferreira) were all included in the squad.

They drew against South Western District (SWD), beat Griquas and KZN and lost against Easterns.
The main game of the Majola Week was a repeat of last year’s unofficial final against Western Province and Gauteng.

Sixteen provincial teams participated in this event. It was an opportunity for young cricketers to be selected to represent various teams around the country such as the SA Colts or SA Schools where they will get to represent South Africa at the u/19 World Cup.

The teams are set to be selected this week.
This tournament has played a massive role in transforming cricket in South Africa. And it hasn’t been by accident. A lot of people from Cricket South Arica, and in the provinces, have been working very
hard through the years making it happen, including Khaya Majola himself.

The man that the week has been named after was in charge of CSA’s development programme, and he worked tirelessly to bring about transformation.

He died on August 28, 2000 at the age of 47. The fact that it has now been acknowledged as the fastest-growing sport in the black community is largely due to his passionate commitment to bring the game to the townships.
Results
• Easterns 219 vs Mpumalanga 126, lost by 93 runs
• Mpumalanga 124 vs KwaZulu-Natal Inland 81. Mpumalanga won by 43 runs.
• Mpumalanga vs Eastern Province – Mpumalanga 122/6 in 20 overs (game abandoned).
What the players had to say about their time
• Geldenhuys: I really had a blast at the cricket and is very satisfied by the way I played. I learned a lot from the other guys and believe my cricket had improved.
• Mpendulo: My game was better than what I had expected as I initially
went there to get experience. My skills and understanding of the game improved a lot and it gave me hope of making the SA u/19 squad this year.
• Carlisle: The week was an amazing experience. The standard was very
high and runs were hard to come by but I learned a lot and I am exciting to hopefully perform this year on the week.
• Mahima: The week was fun and I got a chance to meet new people. The week wasn’t easy at all – people are very talented and skilled out there, but I managed to play under pressure in most games. We played in terrible weather conditions, but we had lots of fun.
• Chandler: It was a great experience and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I didn’t perform too well but I had fun and at the end of the day
that’s what it was all about.