Saints Christian School ready for finals showdown
Head coach Claudio Lucas is well aware of the challenge that awaits his team, Saints Christian School, as his players head into the Schools SA20 national finals at the University of Pretoria.
Saints open their account against Nkowankowa Hub, a team they defeated in the Noordvaal Cup final in November, on the Tuks C field at 09:30, on Thursday, 13 March.
Lucas said his side is primed and ready, adding that they are well-prepared for the challenge that awaits them.
“It’s an amazing feeling and, as a school. we would like to thank God for the opportunity He has given us to be in this phase of the competition. Hard work truly pays off,” he declared.
“We’ve had a lot of matches with the girls at senior level. We’ve also played a few boys’ u13 and u14 teams to make sure we are best prepared for the tournament.”
Lucas’s side goes into the final phase after winning the North West leg of the competition last September with an emphatic 66-run victory over Matlosana Hub in the final.
They then dominated the Central qualifiers in January, with victories over the Botshabelo and Kuruman hubs in the round-robin before claiming the regional title with an incredible 31-run victory over Botshabelo in the final to end phase 2 undefeated.
With the title of the best schoolgirl T20 side in the country on the line, Lucas’s team is eager to continue their good run in the tournament and the coach has promised fans “lots of passion, determination, and discipline” from the Potchefstroom school.
“We have a very good and young squad. Coaches Chè Williams, Thato Legoete, and I, have been working with these girls for the past six years and the hard work is definitely starting to pay off,” Lucas said.
Saints boasts one of the better squads in the national finals, which includes players who have represented North West and South African Schools in various age groups.
The players expected to shine for the team include the captain, Tshegofatso Monyela, a two-time SA Schools’ player. She’s also Saints’ top run scorer in the local league with 438 runs, which includes two centuries and two half-centuries, in eight innings. Monyela also offers a lot with the ball as an off-spinner.
Another prospect is opening batter Reabetswe Dithipe, who turned out for North West’s u16 side in the CSA Week in December. Besides her contribution with the bat, Dithipe is a prolific right-arm off-spinner with 18 wickets in seven games for Saints this year.
Wicket-keeper Jessica Joshua, also a provincial player for North West, is another one to watch. Lucas regards her as the best player in the country in her age group. She recently led the way with the willow for Saints, cracking 119 off 80 deliveries, in a North West Women’s League match.
Lucas said if Saints Christian School wins the competition, it would prove that their endless hours in the nets were worth the effort.
“It would be massive for every single player. It will show them that all their hard work, one-on-one training, and numerous fielding sessions, have paid off,” he said.
