Limpopo Impala Cricket’s cream of the crop acknowledged
The award ceremony took place on Friday at the Peter Mokaba Sport Complex with Bizhub Lions coach, Geoff Toyana, as the guest speaker.
POLOKWANE – Anyone who loves cricket will recognise names like Paul Addams, Fanie de Villiers, and JP Duminy as some of the South African cricket greats and LIC hopes that one day the names of players from Limpopo will be just as well recognised.
To thank those who help grow cricket in Limpopo, Limpopo Impala Cricket (LIC) annually hosts an awards ceremony to encourage them to keep up the good work.
Bizhub Highveld Lions coach, Geoff Toyana, during his keynote address, told the guests about his past and difficult beginnings as a cricket player in Soweto to encourage them to keep working hard and to never give up on their dreams.
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“Growing up in Soweto as a cricketer was not always easy. You had to work hard to achieve something. I encourage you not to only work hard in your cricket career, but also work had on your education,” he said.
Geoff explained during a question and answer session with Volvo Masubelele (Momentum Proteas, Convener of Selectors), Mandla Mashimbyi (Titans, Assistant Coach) and John Mogodi (LIC, President) that being the first black franchise coach as well as a the first black player for Transvaal in those days, was not easy as he did not always know if he was good enough or if he was there because of the colour of his skin.
“It was challenging and it was something that might have slowed progress in my career because I was always unsure why I was chosen for the team,” he explained.
Cricketers awarded during the ceremony were
Senior provincial cricket awards:
• LIC senior women’s batsman of the year – Moné van Niekerk.
• LIC senior women’s bowler of the year – Moné van Niekerk.
• LIC senior men’s batsman of the year – Theo Janse van Rensburg.
• LIC senior men’s bowler of the year – Ruann Willemse.
• LIC senior men’s players’ player of the year – Theo Janse van Rensburg.
Special awards:
• Representation of LIC CSA Colts Week – Katlego Sempe.
• Representation of LIC CSA Colts Week – Hector Ngobeni, Katlego Sempe, and Luck Mhlongo.
• National Team Representation 2016/2017 for Proteas A and Momentum Proteas – Sedibu Mohlaba.
