Ntinis in the making

Daryn Wood

HUNDREDS of Jacques Kallis and Makaya Ntini wannabes have taken to the practice nets in the Bay’s townships with brand new equipment and far better facilities.
Professional coaching has been added to the Eastern Province Amateur Cricket Board programme, which may one day see these youngsters step into St George’s Park donning the Warriors’ kit.
The board’s various development initiatives which take place all year round, have been kicked into high gear since the cricket season started at the beginning of the month.
EP Cricket development coordinator Mpumelelo Slwana, said these initiatives include the centres of excellence, mini cricket and the school adoption programme in six of the Bay’s townships.
EP Cricket’s main goal is to identify cricketers who would normally go unnoticed and whose talent would be wasted, said Slwana.
An example is former Protea fast bowler Mfuneko Ngam who only started playing for Eastern Province at u-18 level.
The initiatives are focused solely on township players, said Slwana, as the more established schools have money for coaches and facilities.
To give the children their first taste of the game, mini cricket from u-9 to u-12 level is taught all around the various townships with boys and girls mixed.
“We make sure schools are playing cricket regularly and have equipment,” said Slwana. He added that EP’s mini cricket programme is one of the best in the country.
In mini cricket a soft ball is used and gets children acquainted with the basics of the game.
From u-13 level children are introduced to the hard ball version.
The Amateur Cricket Board’s Centres of Excellence programme was introduced about five years ago, but in the last year it has really grown, said Slwana. The two main centres are in Motherwell and Zwide and the sub centres are in Kwazakhele, New Brighton, Kwamagxaki and Gelvandale.

Individual players from primary and high schools are brought together in a squad in each township.
“These cricketers receive quality coaching from 14 coaches employed by EP Cricket.
The squads are registered in the regular school leagues and also compete in the school T20 competition. The players practise Monday to Friday and also during the off season when the “bulk of the work” is done.
Slwana said these cricketers now have more opportunities as they get to play against the top schools and compete in the EP trials each year.
“The programme is working quite well,” he said. “Several of the players in the amateur side have come through the centres of excellence.”
The amateur side is the feeder team for the Warriors. Many of their players have competed at the amateur level, one being Protea all-rounder Johan Botha.
The amateur side has won the league for the last two seasons.
The centres of excellence also have a girls cricket programme.
He said there are around 20 girls at the Zwide centre.
The local cricket board also runs a school adoption programme where local clubs identify schools they would like to work with. Club members are sent to the schools to coach.

Slwana can be contacted at 072-615-1837.