Captaincy honour for cricketer ‘KC’ … and why he doesn’t bowl much

In his younger days, when Khalipha Cele was more swashbuckling and carefree he may have been known as ‘Khalipha-so’ Cele or ‘Calypso’ Cele, in a manner usually displayed by flamboyant West Indian cricketers.

But he reined that in a few seasons ago, and that maturity, both at the crease and among his peers, had seen him named captain of the KwaZulu-Natal Coastal (formerly Dolphins B) cricket team for the 2017/18 season.

He’s hardly old, to be fair… only 24.

Khalipha was a little bit surprised that he was made captain.

But when the suits started talking about having as a captain ‘a young player who looks like he knows what he’s doing’ he realised he may be in with a shout.

“Being named captain has definitely helped my batting. The extra responsibility has made me realise that I’ve got a valuable role to play. I had to grow up,” he said.

ALSO READ: 15 Things you need to know about Andile Phehlukwayo

Khalipha is a born and bred South Coaster. His parents still live in Melville and he attended Port Shepstone Senior Primary before heading off to Northwood on a scholarship.

He excelled there, making the South African schools team in his matric year, 2011. He bats at three and his main role is to make runs.

“I can bowl a bit of off-spin but we’ve got others getting paid to take wickets, so it’s best to leave it to them,” he laughed.

He looks up to players like recently retired Imraan Khan, who is involved in the coaching set-up at the Dolphins.

Past players he has moulded his game on include the likes of Brian Lara and Herschelle Gibbs.

Ben Malamba, who is the Southern KwaZulu-Natal cricket coach, is someone who has been a good influence in his life.

“I don’t think I’d be where I am today if it wasn’t for Ben’s input,” he said.

He’s also very good mates with rising Proteas star Andile Phehlukwayo and is thrilled to see how well he has done.

“He’s come from out of the blue in a way. He hits it unbelievably far and has totally modelled his game, batting and bowling, on Lance Klusener,” he said.

Khalipa spent a year playing his cricket in the Free State, and reckons it was one of the best things he could have done.

“It has helped me grow up and toughen up as a person and cricketer,” he said.

It was there that he got to face some really quick bowlers.

“We had to face Marchant de Lange and Duanne Olivier in the nets … every day!” he said.

He reckons De Lange and Hardus Viljoen are the two quickest bowlers he has faced to date.

“Those net sessions have helped make me a lot more ‘cricket tough’,” he said.

He has generally fielded in the covers, but now that he’s captain has had to move into the slip cordon.

“That is supposedly the best spot for a captain, but I have to admit I’m hiding there a little,” he said. He’s also spent a fair bit of time in the gym, as his physique shows.

“It’s part of the job. It’s more functioning gym work and not heavy lifting. It’s about being fit enough so that you’re not ‘dying’ on the last day of a tough match,” he said.

Khalipha is not all about leather, willow and gym work though. He’s completed his honours in environmental sociology and now plans to do his masters. Khalipha is aiming to lead his team with distinction, and also hopefully to get selected for the national academy squad.

He reckons he’s not that far off. “It’s a matter of numbers, making the runs,” he said.

For Khalipha, also nicknamed KC, he’ll need to convert the half centuries into big hundreds.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram

For news straight to your phone, add us on BBM 58F3D7A7 or WhatsApp 082 421 6033