Lowveld heroes make it big on world’s sports fields

Mbombela-born Janneman Malan scored an unbeaten 177 runs in South Africa’s 70-run victory over Ireland in Belfast last Friday.

He smashed 16 fours and six sixes. The score is the fourth highest by a South African in ODI history and was his second century. His knock came off 169 deliveries.

Malan won the man-of-the-series award.

He also contributed to the Proteas’ excellent start to the match, catching both Irish opening batsmen, Paul Stirling (11) and Andrew Balbirnie out off the bowling of Keshav Maharaj.

Malan lived in Suiderkruis Street, Steiltes, and attended Laerskool Bergland. He moved to Pretoria with his family when he was 11.

After seven ODI matches for the Proteas, he averages 121 with the bat at a strike rate of 94.

He is one of a hoard of sportsmen either born in the Lowveld or who lived part of their career here, who have excelled over the past weeks.

Another “local” who shone recently was Vodacom Bulls flyhalf, Chris Smith. He came off the bench to kick the winning penalty for the Bulls against South Africa A at Cape Town Stadium on last Saturday.

Smith arrived in Mbombela a day after winning the Varsity Cup with Maties in 2018. The now-26-year-old made a name for himself in the two seasons he played for the NNC Pumas before signing with the Bulls.

He scored 310 points in 29 matches for the Pumas. His Pumas debut match was a SuperSport Challenge encounter against the Blue Bulls on April 24, 2018. He scored 21 points in a 36-18 victory at the Nelspruit Rugby Club.

The Hoërskool Nelspruit alumnus, Werner Kok, earned the honour of playing not once, but twice for a provincial team against the British and Irish Lions.

The Cell C Shark played wing in the first match against the British and Irish Lions at Emirates Airline Park and then centre in the second, in which he scored a try at Loftus Versfeld.

Kok played Grant Khomo and Craven weeks for the Pumas and went on to earn 184 caps for the Blitzboks.

Thembelani Bholi: The live-wire flanker started the first Sharks’ match versus the British and Irish Lions and came on as a replacement in the second. He played nine matches for the Pumas in 2017.

Khwezi Mona: Played in the Sharks’ first match against the British and Irish Lions. The prop called Mbombela his home and represented the Pumas 52 times from 2015 to 2018.

Le Roux Roets: Played for the Sharks in the first match versus the British and Irish Lions. The tough-as-nails lock played 21 games for the Pumas from 2018 to 2020.

Sbu Nkosi: The Barberton-born winger represented South Africa A in the matches against the British and Irish Lions and the Bulls. He scored a try against the Lions. The former pupil of Laerskool Barberton and Hoërskool Barberton (grade eight to 10).

Faf de Klerk: The Laerskool Bergland and Hoërskool Nelspruit (grade eight and nine) alumnus played for South Africa A against the British and Irish Lions.

Trevor Nyakane: The Bushbuckridge-born prop played for the Springboks in the win over Georgia, and for South Africa A against the British and Irish Lions.

Vincent Koch: Faced the British and Irish Lions and the Bulls in the colours of South Africa A. The burly prop established himself as a world-class player for the Pumas and played 51 matches for the Mpumalanga team from 2012 to 2016.

Kwagga Smith: Earned his seventh Springbok cap versus Georgia. Played for South Africa A against the British and Irish Lions and the Bulls. The former Laerskool Lydenburg learner went on to attend HTS Middelburg and represent the Pumas at two Craven weeks.

Rosko Specman: Played for the Springboks against Georgia and for South Africa A against the Bulls. The lightning-fast winger was the darling of Mbombela Stadium from 2013 to 2015 when he scored 28 tries in 45 matches for the Pumas.

• On Tuesday, Faf de Klerk, Kwagga Smith and Trevor Nyakane were named in the Springbok starting XV for the first test match against the British and Irish Lions at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.