Zaahier Adams
GO OUT and find the next Thami Tsolekile, Makhaya Ntini and Temba Bavuma. That was the strong message Cricket South Africa sent out to its affiliates across the country yesterday at the launch of their improved national excellence programme in Langa.
South Africa’s national cricket body is determined “to unlock all the talent available in our country, especially black African” by significantly increasing its investment (from R8million to R17million) to ensure that its Regional Performance Centres (“RPCs”) and Hubs programmes is one of excellence that provides aspirant Proteas access to facilities and quality coaching and life skills programmes.
Tsolekile, a former Proteas Test wicket-keeper and Cape Cobras and Highveld Lions captain, hails from the cricket-rich Western Cape township and believes this initiative will go a long way in ensuring that the playing fields are levelled between the haves and the have-nots.
“A lot of better cricketers than me have come from Langa, but unfortunately they did not have the opportunities that I have had in this new era,” Tsolekile said in Langa yesterday. “I think the new structure will really benefit not only Langa Cricket Club but also the schools in the surrounding areas.
“The challenge in the townships has always been about having the right structures and facilities, but this has been wonderfully addressed now. Before if you went to a school in the township your chances would be slim (to become a Protea), but ultimately what I would like to see is a young cricketer in Langa being granted the same opportunities that a boy at Bishops has.”
It is a well-known fact that the majority of the current Proteas stem from “traditional cricket schools” and CSA manager of cricket and former Proteas coach Corrie van Zyl hopes this initiative will cast the net wider.
“The current crop of schools produce 80 percent of our national Protea players and this programme is designed to broaden our base and access all our cricketing talent so that we can ensure future growth and sustainability,” Van Zyl explained.
Langa Cricket Club is only one of 12 regional hubs in Cape Town, and one of 46 Hubs and nine RPCs nationally, and the significant improvement in the facilities, which has been partially funded by local government in conjunction with CSA and various private investors, is evident. There are two well-maintained cricket ovals, nets, a multi-purpose hall and new dressing rooms along with the hockey and soccer astroturf’s at the complex.
“CSA believes it appropriate to launch the revamped national excellence programme in Langa which has produced so many legends of the past. Ben Malamba is the most notable example while Thami Tsolekile is a recent Protea,” CSA chief executive Haroon Lorgat said.
“Over the past year we invested a lot of time to carefully review our programmes and we expect the RPCs and Hubs to provide a focal point to inspire excellence. Langa is an area where we can promote the development of black African cricketers in the Western Cape.”
The Black African player base in SA cricket must be increased, especially as South Africa’s World No 1 Test team has not had any Black African representatives for the past three years.
Fast bowler Makhaya Ntini was the last regular in the Proteas Test side until his last match – the Boxing Day Test five years ago against England – with Lonwabo Tsotsobe making a fleeting appearance until the New Year’s Test in 2011.
Tsolekile was on the fringes of the Test team for the past three years, but was first overlooked for AB de Villiers and later his Lions rookie teammate Quinton de Kock after record-breaking Mark Boucher’s injury-induced retirement.
Left-arm spinner Aaron Phangiso has recently been granted regular gametime in the one-day international arena, while Cobras left-arm bowler Mthokozisi Shezi and Lions prodigy Kagiso Rabada have also been added to the Proteas ODI and Twenty20 squads of late.