Coach Bongani among SA’s elite

Bongani Ndaba, a proud alumnus of Randfontein High School (RHS) is an inspiration to many in his hometown of Mohlakeng.

In November 2023, Krugersdorp High School (KHS) recruited Bongani to facilitate the school’s elite cricket programme to develop its players to reach the highest level. Having previously played a vital role in the set-up and running of the St Stithians College Cricket Academy as well, Bongani has now been selected to coach the Pretoria Capitals team that plays in the explosive SA20 League.

The SA20 league, which is commonly known as the Betway SA20 (for sponsorship reasons) is a 20-over franchise cricket tournament involving six teams based in cities around the country. Organised by Cricket South Africa (CSA), it was first contested during the 2022–23 season. The first winners of the tournament were the Sunrisers based in the Eastern Cape.

Bongani is now considered among a class of established coaches with his list of achievements growing.

He expressed how passionate he is about the sport and surprisingly, coaching was never part of his plans.

“I am a proud RHS matriculant [class of 2004]. I attended Westcol after that and briefly studied engineering but that did not work out because everything kept on leading to cricket. I then got a call from one Wim Jansen, my U19 coach at the time, to come and join him on a project to transform St Stithians Cricket in 2008. It was a massive opportunity and I didn’t think twice about taking it. My initial transition was tough, but I kept my head down and things began to happen. In 2010, I obtained my CSA level 2 coaching certification and in 2014 had my CSA level 3 certification, which was the highest qualification at the time. We now have a level four and I am in line to be part of the next intake.”

Bongani has also been blessed to have worked with notable elite international players such as the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Wiaan Mulder, and Ryan Rickelton to name a few. Apart from the SA20, he’s also had coaching stints at the DP World Lions (then Imperial Lions) being their fielding coach for a few years and assistant coach for the Eastern Storm (a professional team from Benoni). In December 2023, he made his international coaching debut after being part of the SA A team coaching staff against India A in Potchefstroom.

“I have also had the privilege of being part of the national academy in 2023 and I have also attended a few national U19 talent identification camps,” he added.

It has been an incredible journey for the coach so far and he describes his journey as being nothing but a learning curve.

“’It has been a great journey and you go through all seasons just like in life. You make lifelong friendships on and off the field. Cricket has allowed me to travel and exposed me to circles I would never have thought were possible. Just the other day in our Pretoria Capitals changeroom the legend of Indian cricket Sourav Ganguly sat next to me, I grew up idolising him and if that’s not enough, Jacques Kallis was also present. I mean here is a child from Mohlakeng sitting among these legends of the game.

“We used to practice in tennis courts in Mohlakeng, no field to play the game at, but I had friends older than me who pushed for us to train then we found a cricket club in Randfontein. Sometimes we didn’t have money for transport, I remember we would walk there, play a match, and walk back home again. I look back and think those were the days my character was being built. I am forever grateful to St Stithians College for the opportunity they gave me and more than anything the people who kept encouraging me and challenging me until today.”

Off the cricket pitch, Bongani is a father of three girls who all have their sporting pursuits just like their father. He enjoys his family time often playing some snakes and ladders and enjoys reading his books. Bongani understands what it takes to become the best of the best in coaching, so he leaves a very sound message for any aspiring coach.

“Things happen quickly in sport. Always look for ways to keep growing yourself and everything you achieve whether you deem it small or big celebrate it, also remember that we working with people so don’t lose the human element in your coaching.”