Eastern Province targets consistency at Khaya Majola Week
Eastern Province will travel to Bloemfontein for the annual Khaya Majola Week with high ambitions. They intend to challenge for the provincial title, and they have identified consistency as the key to those ambitions.
The tournament runs from 16-21 December.
“Our approach for this year’s Khaya Majola Week is to build on our strengths, stay consistent, and play an assertive brand of cricket that reflects the EP fighting spirit,” Somila Seyibokwe, the Eastern Province coach, told SuperSport Schools Plus.
Eastern Province’s side will be led by a core of four players – Cayden Wilson, Randy Syce, Dawid Vermaak, and Luphelo Mdyesha – who were part of their Khaya Majola Week team last year.
Wilson, who led Pearson High to the national finals of the Schools SA20 at the start of the year, is the most experienced member of the team, having also represented the province at the 2023 and 2024 Khaya Majola weeks.
All-rounder, Sulaymaan Gangat, also from Pearson, will be aiming to achieve what his brother, Esa, was unable to do in three visits to the national week, which was win the national title.
St Andrew’s College has the most representatives in the squad, with a complement of four players: William Beamish, Myles Sansom, Samuel Scheckter, and Rhys Wiblin. That quartet has been in good form and helped St Andrew’s reach the final of the Eastern Province leg of the Switch Schools SA20 – Volume Two tournament.
Daniel Pienaar will be cheering loudly for Tylo Maleiba, Owam Malika, and Daveric Petersen‘s exploits at the competition. They have the second-most representatives in the side.
Luphelo Mdyesha and Lisekho Zinyane will fly the flag for Graeme College, who will also have Enqrique Strydom and Corbin Tidbury at the week but representing the CSA Invitational XI. A lot will be expected of Mdyesha, who has been one of Graeme College’s leading lights with the bat this year.
Dawid Vermaak and Randy Syce are the lone representatives from Nico Malan and Woodridge College, respectively. Besides their talents with the bat, the pair also offers the side valuable experience.
“The squad comprises a strong group of talented all-rounders, giving us good balance across all departments,” Seyibokwe said.
Eastern Province u19 Squad
William Beamish (St Andrew’s College), Myles Sansom (St Andrew’s College), Samuel Scheckter (St Andrew’s College), Rhys Wiblin (St Andrew’s College), Sulaymaan Gangat (Pearson High), Cayden Wilson (Pearson High), Tylo Maleiba (Daniel Pienaar), Owam Malika (Daniel Pienaar), Daveric Petersen (Daniel Pienaar), Luphelo Mdyesha (Graeme College), Lisekho Zinyane (Graeme College), Dawid Vermaak (Nico Malan), Randy Syce (Woodridge College).
