Schools SA20 profile – Tshegofatso Monyela – Saints Christian School
Saints Christian School, the Noordvaal Cup champions, begin their challenge at the Schools SA20 National Finals against Nkowankowa Hub, the team they beat in the final of the Noordvaal Cup.
There’s more at stake when the action gets underway on Thursday, but the Potchefstroom school will head into the game full of confidence.
They’re a formidable outfit, as coach Claudio Lucas explained: “Our team plays as a club team in the North West senior women’s league. We won the T20 and 50-over titles with these school girls, which is exceptional.”
Headlining their challenge is a player to whom the “exceptional” tag, applies, captain Tshegofatso Monyela.
She began playing cricket in grade four. By the time she was 13, she made her debut for the North West Dragons ladies’ team. “She was playing with the likes of Tasmin Brits, Anneke Bosch, and Masabata Klaas, when the North West Dragons were still in the A-League, and they still had a good system running,” Lucas recalled.
Monyela’s cricket developed quickly in her younger years when she started out playing in boys’ teams for Saints Christian School, which included playing in the primary school’s first team for three years.
“She is very good technically. She also opened the batting for the North West u19 team that won the nationals last year,” Lucas said, a touch of pride in his voice.
“Her strength is she is very good through the V. She plays traditional cricket shots. Anything on her legs is going to go. She’s very strong on her drives – cover drive, straight drive, on drive. If you bowl it short, she’s good with pick-up shots, as well.
“She’s a well-rounded batter, and that’s why she has been able to score so freely.”
For the past two years, Monyela has been selected for the South African Schools team. That recognition has motivated Monyela and it has also created opportunities for her beyond cricket, Lucas explained.
“She’s working really hard because she wants to go to a good university, and to a province where they play in the A-Division. She is looking at going to Western Province or the Lions, and we have been in communication with them. They are interested in having her. Now, it is more about education. We are trying to look after that.”
While she captains Saints, Monyela is not a loud leader. She’s an introvert, Lucas said, but “when she does speak, everyone listens.
“She has a very calming presence about her. Everyone takes her seriously because she works so hard.
“Every single day, she is in the nets, either batting or bowling, or she’ll organise a fielding session, not just for herself but for the team. She puts in the work, so everybody respects her because of that.
“When she does have something to say, she will always make sense. She doesn’t speak for the sake of speaking, and she’s very firm with the ladies. She speaks once and they listen. We have a highly disciplined team. We emphasise discipline a lot.”
Tshego Monyela’s batting is her forte, and her captaincy astute, but her off-spin bowling should not be underestimated either, coach Lucas shared.
In the senior women’s league, her economy rate is around three-and-a-half runs per over, and she’s picked up six wickets in Saints’ last three matches. Monyela will likely come on as a first-change or second-change bowler, Lucas said, and she will bowl her full complement of four overs.
Monyela will have a big role to play for Saints, but she’s backed by a strongly disciplined unit that understands how to win, with many of the players having been tested in senior women’s cricket and by playing against boys, which was how the team warmed up on Tuesday, with an outing against a solid Saints’ u13 boys’ team.
Most would tab Steyn City School as the favourites, but Saints Christian School, with Tshego Monyela leading their challenge, will be eager to challenge Steyn City and the rest of their opposition for the national crown.
