Former Nelspruit Primary School head boy and star cricketer Khaya Fakude has made history for the school once more, becoming the third* former learner to make their first-class debut.

The 22-year-old Fakude achieved this feat during a game against the Titans in the CSA 4-Day Series Division 1 earlier in November. He was selected as part of the 11 for the Lions’ first game of the season at the Wanderers, when they defeated the Titans by a sizeable 153 runs.

While struggling with bat in hand, he did contribute with a catch in the second innings, holding onto an inside edge off the bat of Tsepo Ndwandwa at short leg, sealing the Lions’ victory with Bjorn Fortuin’s third wicket of the match.

Fakude earned his second first-class cap for the Lions in their second CSA 4-Day Series Division 1 game of the season against the North West Dragons, struggling with the bat again.

The Lions are currently third on the log with their third game of the season beginning today, November 21, against Western Province. Fakude expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to make his professional debut. “It’s extremely rewarding that everything has paid off. It’s a great feeling,” he said.

Having finished primary school at Nelspruit Primary in 2016, Fakude went on to attend King Edward VII School (KES) in Johannesburg. He represented Mpumalanga in all age groups, including U15, before his move to KES.
Fakude initially struggled to crack into the provincial set-up within the Lions structures in his matric year in 2021.

He finally received the call-up to represent the Lions at the 2021 Khaya Majola Cricket Week, and had a great week that saw him become the third* former Nelspruit Primary learner to be selected for the SA Schools side.

After matriculating that year, he joined the Lions Academy in 2022 and spent a year there while playing for and studying at the University of Johannesburg. Afterwards he played club cricket for Lenasia Cricket Club in the Central Gauteng Lions Premier League A. He joined the Lions Colts in 2023, where he’s been grafting away in an attempt to earn a call-up to the senior side.

This hard work finally paid off this year, earning Fakude his first-class debut. It’s been a long, hard journey for the Lowvelder whose family still lives in Mbombela.

“There have been a lot of ups and downs. It’s not been easy. A lot of people don’t see outside of the cricket and don’t believe in you, but I’m grateful for all the support I’ve received,” Fakude said. “I really had great support systems from my friends and their families at Kes. They took me in and helped me wherever they could.”

Fakude also said the decision to leave the comfort of the Lowveld was not an easy one. “It was tough to leave Mbombela. A lot of people doubted the move and thought I would get consumed by the system there. So for it all to pay off means a lot.”

Fakude’s former primary school coach, Albert van Putten, expressed his pride in his former learner’s achievement. Van Putten went to watch Fakude in action at the Wanderers during his debut. “It’s amazing, and an incredible achievement. We’re very proud of what he’s achieved,” Van Putten said.

*This article was amended after it was published in the November 21 edition of Lowvelder. The article previously stated that Fakude was the first former Nelspruit Primary learner to make his first-class debut. He is, however, the third to do so after brothers Sifiso and Siyabonga Mahama. Lowvelder apologises for any confusion caused.