Captains, experience, and pace in Dolphins’ Khaya Majola Week squad
Westville Boys’ High, who sparkled at the recent Westvaal North-South T20 in Pretoria, winning five of their six matches against elite opposition, have had four players named in the Dolphins’ squad to contest the annual Khaya Majola Week in Cape Town, from 16-20 December.
Westville skipper Nicandro Kistna, who is joined by his schoolmates, Roxton Payne, Max Robertson, and Kaedan McAllister, in the squad, is one of a number of captains in the Dolphins’ lineup, so leadership will not be in short supply.
Kistna, an opening batsman, and Payne, a left-arm spin bowler, both offer all-round options, while Robertson and McAllister are hard-hitting batsmen.
Glenwood captain Ntando Soni and Bandile Mbatha are back in the Dolphins’ squad for a second year in succession.
Soni enjoyed a spectacular Khaya Majola Week in 2023. He bagged plenty of wickets cheaply and was subsequently selected for the SA Schools side. Then, in the match between SA Schools and the SA Schools A side, he captured a five-for.
Recently, he was named the Player of the Series in the five-match limited-overs series between the SA Emerging u19 side and Zimbabwe.
Bayanda Majola, from DHS, another young SA u19 fast bowler, who can truly crank it up, and his school captain Semal Pillay, cracked the nod, too. School’s cricket has been on a strong run in 2024 and they’re two of the players that have headlined those successes.
Another returning player, and another captain, is Ross Coetzee. The Kearsney College skipper has been on a tear all year long, raking in the runs, and he recently celebrated his 100th cap for the 1st XI with a century in a winning run chase against Hilton College.
Cameron Veenstra, who also scored a ton in that win, is the most notable omission. But Veenstra withdrew from selection because he had signed a contract with The Sharks.
Paceman Sandiswa Yeni, a regular wicket-taker, gives Kearsney a second player in the squad.
Northwood also provides two players, including SA u19 fast bowling all-rounder Nqobani Mokoena. The Dolphins side is not going to be short of pace options! The Knights’ Mfanafuthi Shange, a top-order batsman, joins Mokoena in the provincial team.
Clifton College captain and all-rounder, Shahzaad Perumal, a left-hander, provides the team with nice balance and offers a solid bat, as well as an accurate left-arm spin option.
It’s a good-looking lineup, filled with multi-skilled players who have enjoyed strong years, and they’ll be guided by an impressive coaching and management team.
Sam Mofokeng, from the Dolphins School of Excellence, is the Head Coach of the side and will be assisted by a highly accomplished trio of Westville staff: Assistant Coach Christo Esau, who is one of a rare number of CSA level four coaches, Assistant Coach Richard Wissing, and Manager Thomas Jackson.
DOLPHINS SQUAD
Bandile Mbatha (Glenwood), Ross Coetzee (Kearsney), Nicandro Kistna (Westville), Nqobani Mokoena (Northwood), Ntando Soni (Glenwood), Bayanda Majola (DHS), Semal Pillay (DHS), Roxton Payne (Westville), Max Robertson (Westville), Mfanafuthi Shange (Northwood), Shahzaad Perumal (Clifton), Sandiswa Yeni (Kearsney), Kaeden McAllister (Kearsney)
Head coach: Sam Mofokeng
Assistant coach: Christo Esau
Assistant coach: Richard Wissing
Manager: Thomas Jackson
