KHAYA MAJOLA Border U19s upbeat for competition
Well-drilled side overcome injury and heartache as national stage beckons with a chance for top honours
The Border U19 Coca Cola Khaya Majola Week team is as ready as ever to take on the best schoolboy cricket talent in the country when the week officially gets underway in Cape Town on Sunday morning.
The team has had a few bumps along the way, including a family bereavement and one of the players missing out through injury, but the bulk of the side will have arrived in Cape Town in high spirits.
“Lilitha Reed thankfully passed the fitness test, so he is all good, but Sebastian (DenisonBrown) had to drop out, which was unfortunate. So we have brought in (Sesethu) Mayase from the U17 Week and he will be flying to join us on Saturday,” said Border U19 coach André de Beer.
“We also had some sad news with Bayolise’s (Tunyiswa’s) dad passing away, which is why he couldn’t make the final practice, and he will also join up with us on Saturday. So there has been a bit of heartache as well.”
The Border team concluded their preparations earlier in the week with a two-day training camp at Selborne College where they went over their final preparations and made sure that everyone was in the right frame of mind.
“The rest of the guys are 100%. They had a nice week off after our last practice match, before our training camp, and now we have gone over the final few things,” said De Beer.
“We had a really good day on Wednesday. The guys were working really hard in the nets and we had a good fielding session. We have had a few chats to make sure they are 100% focused on the Coke Week.
“So the guys are in a good space. They are focused and ready for the challenge.”
The team is a well-balanced side, covering all the bases needed, and will be led by Selborne College matriculant Matt Dewar, who has enjoyed a stellar year in school cricket.
“Matt Dewar will take the lead at Coke Week. He is a brilliant player with a strong personality, and he will be able to lead this side very well at the Week,” said De Beer.
“Our batting department is extremely strong. Every game we can bat until nine, so that makes a big difference having a long batting line up, and our bowlers are solid and will back them up well.”
First up for Border will be ‘time’ (declaration) cricket matches against Western Province on day one and Gauteng on day two. On day three they face Northern Cape and Mpumalanga in two T20 matches, while the final two 50-over games on day four and five will be matched up based on the team’s form over the first four matches.
“Very tough game first up, but you want to play those teams. You want to play the best to measure yourself and see where you match up. So it is great to play Western Province and Gauteng first up, so we can see where we are at,” said De Beer.
“But for me it doesn’t matter what happens, as long as the guys go on the field and give their all. No matter what happens I will be happy if they have left everything out there,” he said.
“But obviously I would love to win, and I believe this team is good enough to go all the way. And if each player can give their all every game we can make the main game of the Week again.”
Border U19 team:
Matt Dewar (capt), Stuart Els (Selborne College); Nonelela Yhika (vice-captain), Luke Dallas, Luvo Ntsekwa, Lilitha Reed, Akhanya Rebe (Hudson Park High); Siyamthanda Zini (Ntabenkonyana SSS); Emihle Mgoqi (Dale College); Ryan Kruger (Lilyfontein); Anda Duda (Queen’s College); Bayolise Tunyiswa (West Bank High), Sesethu Mayase (Thubalethu High School).