Proteas Women Enjoy a Taste of Home and Take Over the Dunes of Dubai

DUBAI: The Proteas Women, currently in Dubai preparing for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, were treated to two unforgettable experiences ahead of their World Cup campaign.

On Sunday, the Consul General for South Africa in the United Arab Emirates, Consulate General Andrew Tsepo Lebona, gave the team a special taste of home at Hyperama, a local South African restaurant, popular amongst South African expats in the UAE.

Consul General Lebona, who hosted the Sunday lunch, remarked on the significance of the gathering: “It’s so wonderful to see South Africans in a South African place in Dubai. It’s a home away from home where they can enjoy a bit of chakalaka, pap, and the ambience of South Africa, Mzanzi.”

Proteas Women captain, Laura Wolvaardt, expressed her appreciation for bringing the team closer to home: “We enjoyed a truly special South African-inspired feast at the restaurant! It was unbelievable and felt like home. It is always heartwarming to have home-cooked meals while on tour, something that we really miss. It was awesome!”

She also shared her excitement about the strong South African community in Dubai: “Clearly there’s a lot of South Africans over here. It would be absolutely awesome to have some loud home support in the crowd. I’m keen to get going and excited to see some South African flags in the stands.”

The following day, the team embarked on an exhilarating Desert Experience in Dubai, which included riding dune buggies, and quad bikes, and enjoying thrilling dune bashing in 4×4 vehicles. After the adrenaline-pumping activities, the team was treated to a VIP dinner at the Noble Campsite, where they relaxed under the stars and enjoyed traditional dance and fire shows.

Proteas Women left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba shared her excitement about the day: “The desert experience was improbable! I’m usually a speed lover, so riding the quad bikes and dune buggies was my favourite part. I felt like I was flying! We even did some 4×4 dune bashing, which was just wild. I was sweating from all the fun, and everyone had a blast. Afterward, we relaxed together as a team, enjoyed refreshing drinks, danced, and soaked in the music. I even joked about getting on stage! It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Lebona also shared a powerful message of support for the team: “To Laura and the team, you’re going to rock! You’ve beaten the best in the world, your tour in Australia was improbable, you’ve been to Pakistan, and you’ve won there. We’re a team of winners. There are 140,000 South Africans in Dubai, and we’re all behind the Proteas Women. Viva Proteas Women, viva!”

The Proteas Women will kick off their World Cup campaign in Dubai on Friday, 04 October, against the West Indies. Wolvaardt encouraged South African fans in the region to come out and support the team: “I would like to encourage you to come and check out our games at the World Cup if you are a South African living in Dubai.

It’s going to be so much fun, and we would love to have some home support. Hope to see you there!”

Proteas Women Squad – ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 (United Arab Emirates):

Laura Wolvaardt (Captain) (Fidelity Titans), Anneke Bosch (Fidelity Titans), Tazmin Brits (DP World Lions), Nadine de Klerk (World Sports Betting Western Province), Annerie Dercksen (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Mieke de Ridder (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Ayanda Hlubi (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Sinalo Jafta (DP World Lions), Marizanne Kapp (World Sports Betting Western Province), Ayabonga Khaka (DP World Lions), Suné Luus (Fidelity Titans), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Seshnie Naidu (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Tumi Sekhukhune (DP World Lions), Chloé Tryon (DP World Lions)

Traveling Reserve

Miané Smit* (Recon Tactical Free State)

* Uncapped