The academy will be called Cow Corner Cricket Academy and will aim to cultivate a love for the sport among young people in the Ba Phalaborwa municipal area and the surrounding Mopani regional areas, especially in the rural areas. The name derives from an actual spot on the cricket field next to the wicket called ‘the cow corner’. As a batsman Sono was considered dangerous in this area. “The aim of the academy is to give quality opportunities to all children.
This way I can give back to my community and share everything that I have learned throughout my career,” he said. He was recently retrenched at the Impalas and says he will always be grateful for the exposure and growth he acquired from them. Sono got his lucky break in 2005 when he was spotted playing for Frans du Toit High School during the U19 Khaya Majola competition. He attended the Limpopo Impala Academy the following year.
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He has excelled as a coach and was named junior coach of the year at Limpopo Impala Cricket in 2018/19; from 2020-2023 he was Limpopo Impala Cricket U19 framework head coach as well as the U15 coach at Ben Vorster High School in the Finsbury League this year, to name but a few. He plans to officially launch the academy at an event with some of the big names in cricket attending.
He is also planning to host a tournament in June. Sono has a Cricket South Africa level two coach qualification, which authorises him to coach at schools, in communities, and in groups such as mini-cricket and so forth. The legendary player also trains individuals in one-on-one sessions. For more information call 078 711 6382 or email sono.emmanuel@gmail.com.
