Badgers unveil dynamic squad for 2023 Khaya Majola
The Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers team for the 2023 Coca-Cola u19 Khaya Majola Cricket Week has been announced and Hoërskool Outeniqua‘s Charl Marais has been chosen to captain the team at the prestigious festival in Makhanda in December.
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Marais, accompanied by Zander Nel and Stefan May, makes Outeniqua the school with the most players in this year’s side.
They will have a vital role to play, drawing on their collective experience. Nel and Marais are both playing for a second successive year and, while this is May’s debut at the tournament, he has been in impressive form for their first team since last year.
Adding more depth to the squad are Elro Spies from Knysna High School and Thurstin Murphy from Bridgton Secondary, two players who boast significant experience as part of the u19 regional team since 2021. Their wealth of knowledge and skills is expected to form the bedrock of the team’s performances.
Hoërskool Punt from Mossel Bay is the only other school with more than one player in the Badgers’ squad. Zane Greyling, Punt’s captain, and the promising young Jessie Lewis, who has already earned a spot in the Badgers Academy team, add depth and talent to the line-up.
After missing out on last year’s tournament because he broke a finger on the final day of trials, Greyling, who is also a top academic performer at Punt, will be eager to showcase his cricketing abilities before matriculating. Fittingly, Lewis takes over the reins from his captain in their first team next year.
Oakdale‘s Corné Kennedy is another exciting prospect who will be available for selection again in 2024.
Sibabawle Msi from Jonga High School has been an integral part of the Thembalethu Hub team this year and is another seasoned campaigner who has made his way through the age grades since playing for the SWD u15 team in 2019.
George High School‘s Davino Koert also received his provincial call-up back in 2017 for the SWD u13 team. Bridgton’s Murphy has shared the field with both Kennedy and Msi since then, forming a strong camaraderie.
Hlumelo Bontiya (Thembalethu High School), Lee-Mar Pedro (Hoërskool Outeniqua) and Sebastian Bell (York High School) are not included in the squad but will be ready if needed as the non-travelling reserves.
The Teams
Garden Route Badgers u19: Charl Marais (Hoërskool Outeniqua), Enathi Khishini (Thembalethu High School), Zander Nel (Hoërskool Outeniqua), Stefan May (Hoërskool Outeniqua), Elro Spies (Knysna High School), Davino Koert (George High School), Zane Greyling (Hoërskool Punt), Jessie Lewis (Hoërskool Punt), Igcobe Khisini (Imizama Yethu High School), Corné Kennedy (Oakdale), Thurstin Murphy (Bridgton Secondary), Sibabawle Msi (Jonga High School), Josh Karelse (Protea High School).
3 Hoërskool Outeniqua | 2 Hoërskool Punt | 1 Bridgton Secondary | 1 George High School | 1 Imizama Yethu High | 1 Jonga High School | 1 Knysna High School | 1 Oakdale | 1 Protea High School | 1 Thembalethu High School
Garden Route Badgers u16: Joof Enslin (Hoërskool Outeniqua), Keano Coericius (Bridgton Secondary), Daniel du Plessis (Hoërskool Outeniqua), Kurt Botha (George High School), Hlumelo Hlangani (Glenwood House), Singumzi Blou (Glenwood House), Lastio Williams (Aurial College), Danie Venter (Hoërskool Outeniqua), Liviwe Bawulie (Thembalethu High School), Luaan Erasmus (Glenwood House), Ducayne Plaatjies (Bridgton Secondary), Huisamen Trent (Hoërskool Outeniqua), Kwetana Aluve (Jonga High School).
4 Hoërskool Outeniqua | 3 Glenwood House | 2 Bridgton Secondary | 1 Aurial College | 1 George High School | 1 Jonga High School | 1 Thembalethu High School
