Andile Phehlukwayo: From humble beginnings to stardom
Bowling all-rounder Andile Phehlekwayo's continuous rise has made him one of the most coveted young cricketers in South Africa.
Taking to the field at SuperSport Park in Centurion on the afternoon of 30 September 2016, many things were running through Andile Phehlukwayo’s mind. It was only his second match in the Proteas’s green and gold uniform, and South African Captain Faf du Plessis would be looking to this young Hollywoodbets Dolphins rising-star to get results.
Andile admits that the pressure was immense, but he did not disappoint. In fact, he announced his arrival on the international stage when he dismissed Australian powerhouse, Steve Smith, and then went on to be the leading wicket taker of the match. And just in case anyone was wondering if he could perform with the bat, Andile took the Australian bowlers to task at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead when he scored 42 not out. Not bad for a soft spoken twenty year old who will never forget his humble beginnings here in KwaZulu-Natal.
Andile’s mother was, and still is, a domestic worker who could not afford to send her son to a school where his talents would be nurtured. His mother’s employer paid for Andile to attend primary school in Margate, and he won a hockey scholarship to attend high school in Durban. His cricketing ability was soon recognised, however, and Andile was called upon to represent South Africa at Under 19 level.
He then gained the attention of the Hollywoodbets Dolphins, and in late 2014 he toured India during the Champions League T20. Last season he put in a phenomenal performance for the Hollywoodbets Dolphins, and became the franchise’s leading wicket taker in the twenty over format of the game. When Cricket South Africa noticed this and combined it with the fact that Andile was also the leading wicket taker for the South African A side who recently toured England, his call up to the national squad became inevitable.
In cricketing terms, Andile notes that his idols are, “Lance Klusener, Shaun Pollock and Jaques Kallis”. All three are legends, but in keeping with his goal to fully entrench himself as a reliable all-rounder at the highest level, Andile reports that he cherishes the time he spent training under Klusener’s watchful eye as the Dolphins’ coach. Indeed, Andile intimated that Klusener’s influence and encouragement will be remembered for many years to come, and that he intends on making his hero proud. In personal terms, Andile’s mother still remains the person he looks up to the most, and one of his deepest hopes is that cricket will enable him to provide his mother with the life she deserves.
Simply put, Andile Phehlukwayo is the man to watch, so catch him live at the Sahara Stadium Kingsmead!
Now that you are a little bit more acquainted with Andile Phehlekwayo, find out when the next Hollywoodbets Dolphins cricket game is taking place at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead.
You can follow Andile on Twitter.
