MOKOPANE – Abigail Mantjane (17) is a talented cricket player from Hoërskool Piet Potgieter who travels the country as part of the Limpopo team while enjoying this sport to the utmost.
Abigail have been playing cricket for five years now starting in primary school as an outdoor activity. “I used to practice at Mahwelereng Stadium as the school did not have cricket as a sport for girls.” That is when the bug bit her and she started enjoying cricket.
When she started school at HPP in 2014 she played as bowler in the u/16 team and after Gr 8 she started playing for the u/19 team. She was then selected to play in the provincial senior Lillies team in which she still plays.
This cricketer recently took part in an Audi Q 5 competition where she came first as bowler in Limpopo.
You may also want to read: Bowlers give their thoughts on the Audi Q5 Fast Track Challenge
She then made her way up to the finals and flew out to Cape Town. “I met many Protea players there. They taught us a few techniques during the practice sessions. I learned a lot,” she said. She was then selected, among other girls, to take part in an u/19 cricket tournament which will be taking place in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape early in December.
“I chose cricket as a sport from a young age because I like the fact that this sport is unique. Most girls think it is only a sport for boys, even though it is not. When I am on the field I forget about everything and my focus becomes first class. It is a lot of fun.”
Abigail is also part of the u/17 netball team where she plays centre.
She thanks Melanie du Toit, their coach at HPP, for her dedication to the team and motivation along the way. When it comes to her future plans, Abigail is still uncertain but would like to study accounting. “I definitely want to keep playing cricket.”
Read more: PHS to host the Audi Fast Bowler Challenge
