Developing black cricket players in South Africa

Themba Katsambe

Opinion piece

There is a special focus on developing black cricket players in South Africa, but little is being done at grass-root level. The Transformation Charter established in 1998 by Cricket South Africa has failed to be implemented. Personally I believe transformation has to work from the bottom up, not the top. Caution is needed to avoid players being exposed at too high a level before they are ready.

I am a concerned cricket supporter with the development of the game in the rural areas and townships.  I look outside my window and see little boys playing street soccer, and then I switch my radio on just to hear Fikile Mbalula complaining about the lack of black Africans in the Proteas squad. How about the shortage of decent facilities at amateur cricket level?!

I reminisce using a bucket as stumps, a tennis ball and a stick as a bat. That shows passion, but then again, it does not help the development of talent to play on a concrete strip for 10 years before you play on a turf pitch once a year.

As for the national squad, one has to understand that Cricket is a unique game due to the longevity of the players. For example, Mark Boucher had been the first choice wicket-keeper for fourteen years before injury had ended his career. Selectors cannot simply “chop-and-change” players whenever they feel.

Makhaya Ntini, who played 101 Tests, remains the only black African to have held down a regular place in the Test. Between them, South Africa’s other black African players — Mfuneko Ngam, Monde Zondeki, Thami Tsolekile and Lonwabo Tsotsobe have played less than 20 Tests. None of them has stayed in the team for more than three successive games. Colour should no longer be an issue in all formats of the game.

If a particular player is forced into the team through transformation pressure. He will always be judged negatively by fans, and you cannot sacrifice the quality of the Proteas for the sake of national unity.  I disagree with affirmative action over competence in my gentleman’s game. Let’s start at the bottom, feed the seeds at primary and high school levels!