ACCRA: The Team South Africa Men’s squad has arrived in Ghana as they seek to emulate the women’s team in qualifying for the final of the inaugural T20 tournament at the 13th African Games in Accra.
The squad travelled a few days earlier for a training camp in preparation for the tournament, which will see them face hosts Ghana in their opening Group A match on Sunday, 17 March at the Achimota Cricket Oval.
South Africa will then take on Kenya and Uganda on 18 and 20 March respectively.
“Playing any host country in their conditions is always going to be a challenge and we expect nothing less when we come up against Ghana on Sunday,” said Team South Africa head coach Conrad de Swardt.
“Kenya is a strong outfit and Uganda had a good qualifier so they will also be tough competition. It’s an exciting prospect playing against these fellow African nations and this tournament will serve as an opportunity to expose our group of players to different conditions and to another level of cricket.”
The 15-player squad is made up of players who have represented their respective university teams at the University Sports South Africa (USSA) tournament earlier this season. The squad boasts players with both domestic and national experience, with former SA U19 captain George van Heerden leading the side.
“It’s a massive honour to captain this side and I’m very excited,” expressed van Heerden. “There is so much talent in the squad and the calibre of management is absolutely astonishing. It’s quite nice that we’ve got players from different universities from around the country.
“In the build-up to the tournament we’ll assess the conditions – after watching the women’s games, the pitches do look a bit tricky and not what we’re used to in South Africa. But in saying that, we’ll look to play a fearless, attacking brand of cricket like that of the national side and the professional teams throughout South Africa.”
Team South Africa Women are vying for gold as they take on Zimbabwe in today’s final at 13:30, and van Heerden is quick to acknowledge the women’s team as a source of inspiration.
“As a squad we’ve all kept an eye on the women’s team. We’ve been watching them not only for our own preparation to try and get a feel for the conditions but also to support them.
“They’ve done brilliantly so far to qualify for the final and hopefully we can achieve the same feat. It is also testament to what South African cricket is about and the quality of players and coaches that we have in the country,” concluded the 20-year-old.
Team South Africa Men’s Squad
George van Heerden (captain, SU), Dylan Bester (UFS), Lehan Botha (SU), Ethan Frosler (NMU), Kyle Glennistor (NWU), Maahir Joseph (SU), Keagan Lion-Cachet (UP), Raps Motlhoaring (CUT), Lifa Ntanzi (UJ), Mini Ntobela (NWU), Heinrigh Pieterse (NWU), Jesse Prodehl (UWC), Jason Raubenheimer (CUT), Lwando Tywaku (UWC) and Aphiwe Yako (UP).
Management
Conrad de Swardt (head coach), Bongani Ntini (assistant coach), Blanche Conradie (team manager), Hannah Bevis (strength and conditioning coach) and Joseph Ntseke (physiotherapist).
Group A Fixtures
Sunday, 17 March at 13:50
South Africa vs Ghana at Achimota Cricket Oval, Accra
Monday, 18 March at 13:50
South Africa vs Kenya at Achimota Cricket Oval, Accra
Wednesday, 20 March at 09:30
South Africa vs Uganda at Achimota Cricket Oval, Accra
Semi-Finals and Final
Semi-Final 1
Thursday, 21 March at 09:30
A1 v B2* at Achimota Cricket Oval, Accra
Semi-Final 2
Thursday, 21 March at 13:50
B1 v A2 at Achimota Cricket Oval, Accra
Final
Saturday, 23 March at 13:50
Winner SF 1 v Winner SF 2 at Achimota Cricket Oval, Accra
*Group B
Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania and Zimbabwe
Source: cricket.co.za
Kepler Wessels (born 1957) – 50 internationals, 41.86 average, 179 high score, nine centuries, 24 official Tests: Wessels had one of the most intriguing and fascinating international careers. It began in South Africa, and moved to Australia before returning to South Africa. He began with a match for the President’s XI in 1975-76, followed by four matches for Australia in World Series Cricket, 24 Tests for Australia, four rebel Tests for Australia, one rebel Test for South Africa, then 16 Tests for South Africa in which he was captain.
The China Wall
Japan was the first Asian nation to reach the knockout stages of the Rugby World Cup – In 2019, Japan hosted the Rugby World Cup. Not only were they the first Asian nation to host they Rugby World Cup, they also shocked the world by beating Scotland to reach the knockout stages for the first time in history. Though they were eventually stopped by South Africa in the quarter-finals, they stole our hearts with the way they played. They also showed that taking rugby to new nations is the way forward to grow the game’s popularity.
Disco Potato
There\’s only one person who witnessed Jim Laker and Anil Kumble taking 10 wickets in an innings – As a 10-year-old Richard Stokes witnessed Jim Laker taking all 10 wickets in the 1956 Old Trafford Test against Australia. Forty-three years later he was in India watching the India vs Pakistan Test and saw Anil Kumble taking all the 10 wickets in an innings. These were the only two Tests Stokes has watched in his life.