Lack of facilities didn’t stop Tumi
Bowler happy for the youngsters
Proteas Women bowler Tumi Sekhukhune is pleased to see young children from the township being supplied with cricket equipment and facilities, something she did not have growing up.
Sekhukhune rose quickly through the ranks. She’s represented the SA U19 and SA Emerging Squad and is now an integral part of the Proteas.
Even though her star in the game is still rising, Sekhukhune holds her humble beginnings growing up in Daveyton to heart, as they shaped her. “We had challenges of getting to play on a field. We didn’t have facilities to practice but we made the most of it,” said Sekhukhune, told Sowetan.
“I used to play cricket with boys; I started playing cricket because of my brothers. We used to play in the neighbourhood and yard at home.
“We didn’t have a ladies’ team in Daveyton, so I started playing U/9 and U/11 with the boys at the Daveyton Union Cricket. I took most of my skills there. The coaches took time to believe in my craft and build it. I’m very grateful to them,” she said.
The Proteas bowler was in attendance at the World Children’s Day celebration at Lenz Tech Facility in Lenasia yesterday. More than 2,000 children attended the coaching clinic and to see the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup trophy as the build-up to February’s showpiece in SA continues.
Seeing girls and boys from Sedibeng, Alexandra and Dobsonville during the coaching clinic, made Sekhukhune happy as they got the chance to play with cricket equipment.
“It was very tough for us to get stumps or even a bat. Now there are unions that help kids who love cricket with equipment. We have academies that take kids to shape up their cricket. They have a ball to bowl and a bat to bat with.
“So those are the things we didn’t have back in the days. Now these things are brought to them. So it’s good to see,” said Sekhukhune.