Senwes Spinners celebrate 10 years of excellent cricket development
2016 marks the 10th year anniversary sponsorship partnership between Senwes and North West Cricket with regards to farm school cricket development. The Senwes Spinners farm school cricket development program was initiated on the 23rd March 2006 at Senwes Park, with the goal and objective to develop cricket in the rural areas; as well as to …
![Modise Mahlaku, one of the young stars of the Senwes Spinners project. Mahlaku is currently a learner at HTS Potchefstroom.](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/117/2016/04/Spinners-Modise-Matlhaku.jpg)
2016 marks the 10th year anniversary sponsorship partnership between Senwes and North West Cricket with regards to farm school cricket development. The Senwes Spinners farm school cricket development program was initiated on the 23rd March 2006 at Senwes Park, with the goal and objective to develop cricket in the rural areas; as well as to give the scholars and teachers a sporting chance. The Program started with 8 farm schools namely; Ditsobotla Primary School (Lichtenburg), Tjantjello Primary School (Bothaville), Renyakalletse Primary School (Viljoenskroon), Reaitumela Primary School (Kroonstad), Tlamang Primary School (Hoopstad), Sokologang Primary School (Ottosdal), Selamolela Primary School (Klerksdorp) and Rabana Primary School (Ventersdorp). The program now has a total of ten schools participating in 2016.
Over the past decade a total of 19 primary schools have participated in the Senwes Spinners farm school cricket development Program, with a total amount of 1274 learners and 47 school teachers (trained and received CSA Level 1 coaching certificates) that have participated in the development program.
Over 296 cricket matches have been played in the program since its inception in 2006. North West Cricket development coaches have also visited schools to conduct additional coaching sessions, and have conducted a total of 541 coaching sessions at the schools.
North West Cricket CEO – Heinrich Strydom’ thoughts about the Senwes Spinners program and the relationship built with Senwes are as follows, “North West Cricket is extremely grateful for the wonderful relationship with Senwes. We are especially proud of the fact that this year as a partnership we celebrate a decade of sustainable farm schools cricket and as we all know a decade in the world of sport is a rare achievement.”
The Senwes Spinners Project was launched in 2006 and has been running for an incredible 10 years. It has served as a perfect tool to give back to the farming community. This program has introduced cricket to kids from more than 20 different farm schools, whilst also teaching them valuable lessons in life such as teamwork and leadership. A total of almost 400 matches have been played, 320 coaching sessions have been conducted and more than 40 teachers have been trained in the aspects of coaching, umpiring and scoring.
It provides one of the greatest opportunities for our farming communities to be part of a high quality sporting event and to learn some vital life lessons playing as individuals within a team concept. This is where some of the province’s future cricket stars get born and this is the canvass where each player can paint a cricket future with bat or ball.
Hopefully when we reflect on this tournament in 2026 it will still be the flagship program of its sort in South Africa. Let us celebrate this 10 year anniversary with a wonderful tournament, let us reflect on those that have gone before us and let us bring our own unique contribution to this beautiful game that has brought us all together.”
The Senwes Spinners program has double speared objectives which are cricket and academic development, and with the latter, the program has awarded a total of 5 bursaries to learners since the start of the program. And this has seen 2 of the learners matriculating and then furthering their studies in Higher Education institutions (namely; Neo Lichaba and Kgosi Senne) so far, with many more to come through the system.
In terms of cricket prospects, the Senwes Spinners program has helped to produce cricketers for various school and provincial teams in the North West Province and the Free State Province. Modise Matlhaku (from Rabana Primary School) has represented the North West Provincial Age Groups at the CSA National Cricket Weeks for the following age groups Under-15s, Under-17s and Under-19s. And as well as Faan Nel (from Humansvlakte Primary School), whom has gone on to play for Grey College 1st XI team in Bloemfontein; to mention a few.
With a decade now reached the program has been such a great success, and this is what it means to Senwes’ MD Francois Strydom “Wow! It is amazing how time flies. In 2006 we (Senwes and North West Cricket) started what seemed to be a very challenging development programme i.e. to do development cricket not in the suburbs of the cities, neither in rural schools, but in farm schools. This programme quickly grew into a flagship of farm school cricket development in the country.
As we celebrate 10 years of the Senwes Spinners programme, we do it with gratitude and pride but yet in humility. The 10 years is testimony to the sustainability of the programme, which is a critical criteria aspect in Senwes’ CSI policy. Though we haven’t yet delivered a Protea player, we are thankful to have had the opportunity to have changed and/or influenced the lives of 130 learners per annum over this 10 year period –and that to us is the real win!
I would like to wish the ten teams all of the best during the tournament and May you have a life-enriching experience during the 4 days that you will spend in Potchefstroom. May you enjoy yourselves while playing the gentleman’s game, expand your network of friends and may the best team win.
A big thank you to all educators/coaches who made special effort to accompany the learners to the tournament. I also express my gratitude to North West Cricket staff for all their arrangement to host a successful tournament. Lastly, thank you to all the Senwes staff who has worked with passion and dedication on this project since its inception.
Let’s all play the game of life in a free and just way.”
In the past decade a total of 120 players have been selected to represent the Senwes Spinners High Performance team, and this team has played a total of 13 matches.
The program is considered a flagship program for rural development in South Africa, and it has been linked with renowned cricket family members such as Jacques Faul (Current Northerns CEO and former North West Cricket CEO), Alviro Petersen (Bizhub Highveld Lions batsman, and former Proteas batsman). The latter was once the tournament ambassador, and this are his remarks with regards to the Senwes Spinners program “I always knew that the Senwes Spinners will be a huge success, and now that it celebrate its 10 year anniversary makes it so much more special. Many congratulations to those who invested in the lives of our young people who no doubt will become leaders in society. To all the sponsors and administrators who ensured that this program is successful, I salute you and want to acknowledge you-well done!! Here’s to another 20 years”.
The Senwes Spinners tournament was held from the 28th – 31st March 2016 in Potchefstroom, and the 10 schools that participated in the program stayed at Potchefstroom Boys High School, which also made for smooth logistical planning regarding matches, as three of the cricket fields are situated at Potchefstroom Boys High School and two at HTS Potchefstroom. A total of 35 cricket matches were played during the tournament, with each team playing 7 matches.
The match results for the tournament are below:
Monday, 28th March 2016:
Pelonomi Primary School 34/10 in 8 overs vs. Phakela Primary School 35/7 in 5.3 overs at Potchefstroom Boys High C field. Phakela won the match by 3 wickets
Humansvlakte Primary School 141/10 in 20 overs vs. Dr. Sello Primary School 22/10 in 8.3 overs at HTS Potchefstroom A field. Humansvlakte won the match by 119 runs
Nampo Primary School 64/10 in 13.4 overs vs. Rabana Primary School 93/7 in 20 overs at HTS Potchefstroom B field. Rabana won the match by 3 wickets
Tlhabologo Primary School 42/10 in 13.2 overs vs. Mponeng Primary School 31/10 in 9.2 overs at Potchefstroom Boys High A field. Tlhabologo won the match by 11 runs.
Rusoord Primary School 84/10 in 14.4 overs vs. Manana Primary School 85/4 11.2 overs at Potchefstroom Boys High B field. Manana won the match by 6 wickets
Tuesday, 29th March 2016:
Morning matches:
Rabana Primary School 55/10 in 19.3 overs vs. Humansvlakte Primary School 57/0 in 5.3 overs at Potchefstroom Boys High C field. Humansvlakte won the match by 10 wickets
Dr. Sello Primary School 99/4 in 20 overs vs. Pelonomi Primary School 84/10 in 14.1 overs at HTS Potchefstroom A field. Dr. Sello won the match by 15 runs.
Phakela Primary School 76/7 in 16.3 overs vs. Mponeng Primary School 73/10 in 13.2 overs at HTS Potchefstroom B field. Phakela won the match by 3 runs.
Nampo Primary School 146/3 in 20 overs vs. Manana Primary School 32/10 in 12.1 overs at Potchefstroom Boys High A field. Nampo won the match by 114 runs.
Rusoord Primary School 134/10 in 19.1 overs vs. Tlhabologo Primary School 87/5 in 20 overs at Potchefstroom Boys High B field. Rusoord won the match by 47 runs.
Afternoon matches:
Pelonomi Primary School 56/1 in 7.5 overs vs. Rabana Primary School 52/10 in 13.3 overs at Potchefstroom Boys High C field. Pelonomi won the match by 4 runs.
Dr. Sello Primary School 67/10 in 20 overs vs. Mponeng Primary School 71/5 in 10.4 overs at HTS Potchefstroom A field. Mponeng won the match by 5 wickets.
Phakela Primary School 131/8 in 20 overs vs. Tlhabologo Primary School 62/10 in 15.5 overs at HTS Potchefstroom B field. Phakela won the match by 69 runs.
Manana Primary School 12/10 in 8 overs vs. Humansvlakte Primary School 13/3 in 3.3 overs at Potchefstroom Boys High A field. Humansvlakte won the match by 7 wickets.
Rusoord Primary School 74/10 in 15 overs vs. Nampo Primary School 27/10 in 6.3 overs at Potchefstroom Boys High B field. Rusoord won the match by 47 runs.
Wednesday, 30th March 2016:
Morning matches:
Pelonomi Primary School 136/6 in 20 overs vs. Manana Primary School 106/8 in 20 overs at Potchefstroom Boys High C field. Pelonomi won the match by 30 runs.
Rabana Primary School 91/8 in 20 overs vs. Mponeng Primary School 91/10 in 15.3 overs at HTS Potchefstroom A field. Match drawn.
Humansvlakte Primary School 222/2 in 20 overs vs. Nampo Primary School 77/10 in 18.1 overs at HTS Potchefstroom B field. Humansvlakte won the match by 145 runs.
Tlhabologo Primary School 60/10 in 17.1 overs vs. Dr. Sello Primary School 61/5 in 17.4 overs at Potchefstroom Boys High A field. Dr. Sello won the match by 5 wickets.
Rusoord Primary School 86/10 in 16.3 overs vs. Phakela Primary School 77/10 in 18.1 overs at Potchefstroom Boys High B field. Rusoord won by 9 runs.
Afternoon matches:
Nampo Primary School 120/10 in 15 overs vs. Pelonomi Primary School 53/9 in 15 overs at Potchefstroom Boys High C field. Nampo won the match by 67 runs.
Manana Primary School 69/10 in 16.2 overs vs. Mponeng Primary School 69/10 in 7.2 overs at HTS Potchefstroom A field. Match drawn.
Humansvlakte Primary School 232/3 in 20 overs vs. Rusoord Primary School 70/10 in 11.5 overs at HTS Potchefstroom B field. Humansvlakte won the match by 162 runs.
Tlhabologo Primary School 82/7 in 20 overs vs. Rabana Primary School 60/10 in 14.5 overs at Potchefstroom Boys High A field. Tlhabologo won the match by 22 runs.
Phakela Primary School 74/10 in 16.2 overs vs. Dr. Sello Primary School 53/10 in 18.1 overs at Potchefstroom Boys High B field. Phakela won the match by 21 runs.
Thursday, 31st March 2016:
Morning matches:
Rabana Primary School 47/6 in 15 overs vs. Phakela Primary School 48/1 in 7.2 overs at Potchefstroom Boys High A field. Phakela won the match by 9 wickets.
Humansvlakte Primary School 180/4 in 15 overs vs. Pelonomi Primary School 92/5 in 15 overs at HTS Potchefstroom A field. Humansvlakte won the match by 88 runs.
Nampo Primary School 67/4 in 15 overs vs. Mponeng Primary School 69/3 in 10 overs at HTS Potchefstroom B field. Mponeng won the match by 7 wickets.
Manana Primary School 87/10 in 15 overs vs. Tlhabologo Primary School 80/10 in 15 overs at Potchefstroom Boys High C field. Manana won the match by 7 runs.
Rusoord Primary School 100/4 in 15 overs vs. Dr. Sello Primary School 72/2 in 15 overs at Potchefstroom Boys High B field. Rusoord won the match by 28 runs
Afternoon matches:
Tlhabologo Primary School 77/8 in 15 overs vs. Nampo Primary School 79/4 in 11 overs at HTS Potchefstroom A field. Nampo won the match by 6 wickets.
Mponeng Primary School 77/6 in 15 overs vs. Humansvlakte Primary School 80/4 in 12.1 overs at HTS Potchefstroom B field. Humansvlakte won the match by 6 wickets.
Dr. Sello Primary School 69/10 in 15 overs vs. Rabana Primary School 73/5 in 15 overs at Potchefstroom Boys High A field. Rabana won the match by 5 wickets.
Rusoord Primary School 124/3 in 15 overs vs. Pelonomi Primary School 88/6 in 15 overs at Potchefstroom Boys High B field. Rusoord won the match by 36 runs.
Manana Primary School 61/10 in 12 overs vs. Phakela Primary School 62/2 in 7 overs at Potchefstroom Boys High C field. Phakela won the match by 8 wickets