Easterns CEO hails hubs’ role in promoting women’s cricket
“Women’s cricket is becoming increasingly popular and Eastern Cricket Union is committed to getting more ladies involved and playing cricket.”
The Eastern Cricket Union CEO, Wesley Coulentianos, believes tournaments such as the recent Ladies’ Hubs Week competition, played at Lords Cricket Ground are integral in attracting more ladies to help bolster women’s cricket in Ekurhuleni.
Coulentianos welcomed the tournament, saying the union’s three hubs are a vital part of Eastern’s mission and vision.
“They form the focal point for cricket in Ekurhuleni to reach every corner of the municipality and make cricket accessible to all spheres of the community,” he said.
The tournament pitted the hosts against Kwa-Thema and Duduza hubs, and all three teams included players from Etwatwa, Tsakane and Geluksdal in their squads.
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The CEO said the hubs served as a place for cricketers from disadvantaged areas to showcase their talent, improve their skills and move their cricket forward.
“Hubs, together with the entire union, play an integral role in ensuring an inclusive and safe environment for people of all genders and ethnicities to play the beautiful game.
“Women’s cricket is becoming increasingly popular and Eastern Cricket Union is committed to getting more ladies involved,” said Coulentianos.
One of the tournament’s star performers included last year’s Cricket South Africa (CSA) U16 girls’ player of the year, Mpumelelo Mashiloane from Kwa-Thema.
Mashiloane returned with knocks of 87, 47 and 61 (all not out) in three games. Although they were pipped to the tournament title by the hosts, she was happy with how her team played.
“My performance was really good. I know I could have scored more runs. We really worked hard and played an interesting brand of cricket as a team.
“Seeing some of my teammates improving really told me we are moving in the right direction,” she said.
She said this tournament was proof Eastern was serious about making the sport inclusive and accessible to every child in the region.
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“The tournament was really good even though my team didn’t get the results we anticipated.
“I want to start by thanking Eastern for making sure that this inter-hubs games are happening. I want thank the union for giving us, girls, more game time which we really needed during the off-season,” said Mashiloane.
While the wicketkeeper-batter knocked the big scores, the gap between her and some of her teammates revealed the work the union’s development coaches in the hubs still have to do.
Coulentianos, however, is positive that with the support and resources Eastern has invested in the hubs, they will soon promote players who will add value to the union’s ladies’ first team.
