Luck has nothing to do with Lucky’s success in the gentleman’s game

POLOKWANE – Phalaborwa Limpopo Impala Cricket player, Lucky Mhlongo, was a school boy when he discovered his passion for the gentleman’s game of cricket.

Mhlongo, who regards himself as an all rounder, was appointed the new schools cricket coordinator in November last year.

He was previously the coordinator of the Letaba region and says his step up the ladder is part of his vision to ensure that Limpopo cricket is well-established and that it ultimately becomes a professional franchise.

“During my childhood in Phalaborwa I had the opportunity to practise with Protea fast bowler Dale Steyn, although I never played in a match with him,” says Mhlongo.

“I am grateful to Gus Toyane, an excellent coach in Phalaborwa. He certainly had an input in my interest and passion for cricket. His son, Godfrey, is the coach of the Lions franchise.

Mhlongo finished his high school career in Mbombela in 2007. He gained experience and further honed his skills by joining the Eersterust Cricket Academy, he also played for Irene Villagers Cricket Club. During his time at the academy he studied coaching.

While with the Irene Villagers Cricket club, he played with the likes of Jacques Rudolph and Henry Davids, who are former and current Protea cricketers respectively.

“During the time I played for Irene, I suffered a back injury that kept me from playing for seven months. While recovering I decided to take up coaching. The first team I coached was the junior cricket team from Eersterust Cricket Aacdemy,” he says.

He returned to Limpopo in 2011 and joined the Nkowankowa Cricket Club in the Letaba region. With the experience he brought with him from Gauteng he immediately turned this club into a force to be reckoned with.

In the 2011/12 season they won the promotional league to advance to the premier club league for the 2012/13 season.

With Mhlongo as coach and captain of the side, Nkowankowa went on to win the premier league. “It was never easy being coach and captain, but the team and I were happy to take the premier league crown,” he says.

Mhlongo says cricket defines a person and helps to overcome challenges that one thought would not be possible to overcome.

“Cricket has definitely changed my life for the better. It is certainly a sport that builds a person’s character, teaches one how to work hard to achieve one’s goals, to work with other people, and above all I learned some valuable leadership skills,” he says.

Mhlongo is currently a level two coach and is an assistant coach for the Limpopo Impalas amateur team. Last year he also played some games for the Limpopo outfit.

He is planning to do his level three coaching course soon and his next goal is to become the head coach of the Impalas.

He says ideally he would like to coach one of the national cricket franchises.