North West’s u.15 team ready for national week challenge

Potchefstroom will be the host of  South Africa’s brightest young u.15 cricketing talent as the city prepares itself for five days of high-class cricket during the upcoming CSA u.15 National Cricket Week from 9-13 December.

The action will start off on Friday with a host of matches being played throughout the city in over and time cricket formats that will certainly test the best of the best.

The North West u.15 team will look to use home ground conditions to their advantage this year. They have a strong squad with players from Volkies, Gimmies and HTS Potch forming the core of the group. Van Zyl Smit and Timothy Malan from Volkies have both had excellent season’s with the bat in hand and will look to impress on the national stage. Jaco Viljoen has also had a great season with ball in hand and he will look to pick up a few sticks.

Phemelo Seipati and Karabelo Matlawe from HTS Potchefstroom are also players to keep an eye on and could form the core of the NW school sides in the next couple of years.

Ronald Hendricks of Gimmies is also an opening batsman with a lot of potential who can complement the already strong batting line up.

Rico Ramokhethi (head coach) and Wian Lubbe (assistant coach/manager) are in charge of the team and, according to Lubbe, preparations have gone swimmingly for his young side.

‘I think the preparation for the week went well. We have already played 6 matches against various teams that included all the formats of the week. Our main focus for the boys was preparation for the 20 over and time cricket formats because those are the first four matches we are going to play and these are also formats that the boys do not play too often at school level,’ he stated.

Lubbe added that their main targets would be to do the province proud and play each game to the best of their ability. He believes that the local conditions will be a big advantage to the players.

‘The boys know what the wickets will give them and they are familiar with the surroundings. It will nevertheless be a tough week for our boys but will be a great opportunity for each and every one to showcase their talent against the best u.15 in the country. We, as coaches, are very confident and urge the public to come and support the boys during the week.’

The North West u.15 will open their week against Eastern Province on Friday, before taking on SWD on Saturday and KZN Coastal and Mpumalanga on Sunday.

*Other CSA National Weeks taking place around the country are the CSA u.13 week in Cape Town, the u.17 week in Benoni, the u.17 Village and Rural weeks in Nelspruit all from 8-13 December.

The ever-popular and most important week of them all will be the u.19 Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week that will take place in Bloemfontein from 16-20 December this year.

This week has been the birthplace of Proteas and big names such as Quinton de Kock and Kagiso Rabada who have made their name during these   national weeks.

Team:

1.Christopher De Freitas – Potchefstroom Volkskool

2.Francois Viviers – Potchefstroom Gimnasium

3.Hanré de Villiers – Wesvalia High School

4.Jaco Viljoen – Potchefstroom Volkskool

5.Karabelo Matlawe – HTS Potchefstroom

6.Luhan Hefer – Lichtenburg High School

7.Odirile Modimokoane – Grenswag High School

8.Phemelo Seipati – HTS Potchefstroom

9.Ronald Hendricks – Potchefstroom Gimnasium

10.Simphiwe Motaung – Potchefstroom Volkskool

11.Timothy Malan – Potchefstroom Volkskool

12.Van Zyl Smit – Potchefstroom Volkskool

13.Xoli Mbathu – Borakanelo High School

Team management:

Head coach: Rico Ramokhethi

Assistant coach/manager: Wian Lubbe