Download (PDF, 5.11MB) - ECTODAY

SPORT
Straight Talk
DEREK HINDMAN
Good news
and bad news
By Derek Hindman
There is not too much plain sailing in
South Africa. Either we are up or we are
down.
Just after we were all lifted by strong
performances of our Olympic team our
country had to face up to the tragedy at
the Marikana mine.
A few days later, our national cricket
team took over the top spot on the world
Test cricket rating list when they beat
England 2-0 in a three match Test series
in their own back yard, but achievement
was seriously diluted by events at
the mine.
In this day and age it seems ludicrous
to be talking in black and white terms
but is that exactly how the politics in
sport is still defined in South Africa.
There is trouble brewing at Border as
black rugby players are reported to be
moving to other provinces.
The trouble seems to be that too few
black players are being selected to play
for the Bulldogs or the U21 and U19
Border teams.
A few weeks ago I did see three or
four black players on the field for the
Bulldogs but more disturbingly, in the
curtain raiser between the Border U21
team and the Sharks I did not see one
black player take the field for Border.
The Sharks did field two or three black
players. This is sad as Border, along
with the whole of the Eastern Cape, is
recognised as the home of back rugby
in South Africa. It looks like the Sharks
are ahead of Border in the development
stakes at youth level.
The public has also heard that the
Southern Kings rugby team will take up
a manipulated place at Super 15 level in
2013.
This is good news for those who believe
that the Southern Kings fully deserve
to compete in the hardest international
rugby competition in the world.
For those who believe that the franchise
is light years away from playing
competitive rugby at the highest level it
must be bad news.
It’s my view that most rugby fans will
not pay good money to watch uncompetitive
rugby. What’s more, if a local
team gets beaten too badly too often by
foreigners they will probably turn off
the tv screen as well.
The Southern Kings is supposed to be
the flag ship team for black rugby players
in South Africa but because rugby
authorities have failed to develop young
talented black rugby players in numbers
locally, the Southern Kings look likely
to be made up largely of white players
from other provinces for the foreseeable
future.
The few experienced black players at
other provinces who are in their prime
are unlikely be lured to the Kings easily.
Those who are reaching the end of their
playing career could be open to the suggestion.
The only “ready made” players who
might be keen to sign up for the Kings
are those who sit out on the periphery
at the bigger teams like the Stormers,
Sharks and Bulls.
Time will dictate what sort of a future
the Kings have.
Eastern Cape Today 24 August - 30 August 2012
KhaKa maKES hER maRK
GOING PLACES
BRIGHT FUTURE: All round cricketer
Ayabonga Khaka of Middledrift has been
selected to represent South Africa at the
ICC Women’s World T20 tournament in
Sri Lanka in September. Picture supplied
By Desmond Coetzee
Middledrift-born cricketer
Ayabonga Khaka has made
her community and the
Eastern Cape cricket fans
proud.
Earlier this month she was
selected to represent South
Africa at the ICC Women’s
World Cup T20 competition
to be hosted in Sri Lanka
next month.
Khaka and Marizanne
Kapp of Port Elizabeth are
the only two cricketers from
the Eastern Cape who were
selected for the 15 strong
squad.
Khaka is a first year student
at the University of
Fort Hare.
She is passionate about
cricket and her selection is a
dream come true.
“I have been playing cricket
since age nine.
I have represented Border
Cricket and the national U19
cricket teams on many occasions
but I never expected
to play for the senior side so
School sport results
Dale College vs
Queens College
18 augusT
HoCKeY
1st team drew 3-3
2nd lost 1-3
U16A lost 0-1
U16B lost 0-4
U14A drew 1-1
RugBY
1st team lost 0-28
2nd lost 7-18
3rd lost 5-13
4th lost 17-41
5th lost
soon,” she said.
“I have been inspired by
former SA national team
bowler Makhaya Ntini who
I see as my role model. My
family has supported me all
the way.
Mnonopheli Mfenqe at
Border Cricket has also motivated
me,” Khaka added.
Mfenqe said Khaka came
from a humble family.
“She is well disciplined,
dedicated and a well balanced
young woman,” he
said.
The 20-year-old player
said that her goal is to establish
herself in the national
team.
“I am an opening bowler
and I bat at number three so
I will fight to retain my position
in the squad as a batsman
and as a bowler,” she
added.
Khaka started school at
Ingwenya Primary where
she fell in love with cricket
after participating in the
Border Cricket Bakers Mini
Cricket tournament.
13
n Border cricketer selected for World Champs
U16A lost 15-35
U16B lost 3-12
U15A won 26-10
U15B won 12-11
U15C won 14-5
U14A lost 17-22
U14B lost 12-19
U14C lost 0-20
She played active cricket
at Ntabenkonyane High
School and was rewarded
when she was selected
to represent Border at the
National Girls U19 Cricket
Week in December 2007
when she was 15 years old.
Two years later, she was
selected for the same tournament
which was staged in
Gauteng.
Khaka was chosen for the
Ladies Super 4s team in
Kimberley in 2010 and earlier
this year she played for
the South African Academy
team against an England
Academy side in Potchefstroom.
“We played three ODI’s
and three T20 games in
England. The best moment
came when I took my
first wicket which I will always
remember,” said Miss
Khaka.
Khaka’s uncle Sonny Hoyana
who is a retired principal
said she is a talented
youngster with a bright future
ahead of her.
BABY BOKS
Junior rugby players
from all over the Eastern
Cape enjoyed several
fun games at Hudson
Park Primary School on
Saturday. The U7 James
O’Kennedy rugby festival
honors Mr O’Kennedy
and the contribution
he has made to rugby
in our region. Hudson
Park, Gonubie, Beaconhurst,
George Randell,
Cambridge, Crewe, Lilyfontein,
Stirling, Nahoon,
Grens and Stutterheim
Primary schools participated
in the day. Left,
Cambridge Primary (in
dark green) running with
the ball against George
Randall Primary.
Picture by Megan Skelly