In December, when Christian Mahlalela leads his North-West University (NWU) side onto the cricket field in Stellenbosch, he will be carrying more than just his team’s hopes. He will bear the responsibility of redemption, and with the help of his teammates, this weight will be as light as a feather.
The NWU’s Vanderbijlpark Campus Cricket team has unveiled a 14-man squad that will compete against the best at the prestigious University Sports South Africa (USSA) cricket tournament from 1-5 December. The squad is backed by head coach Devon da Silva, manager Shaun Meijer, and team assistant Christopher Tieties.
As the team prepares for the tournament, all eyes are on coach da Silva and his technical team as they finalise their preparations. In conversation with the coach, he provided insight into the team’s readiness and ambition.
Preparation despite exam challenges
Coach da Silva spoke openly about the difficulties his players face in balancing academic responsibilities withy athletic commitments. “As a team, our preparation has been limited due to exams, but we have been working closely individually to try and fine-tune our skills,” he said.
With the travelling squad only announced on Monday, 10 November, collective training has begun. “We only started training with the team this week,” he added.
Despite the short preparation time, the team remain confident, drawing inspiration from their recent strong performances and the positive trend of the tactical adjustments. “The team’s form has been very consistent over the past few games, and this is evidence of the changes I have implemented as a coach,” said coach da Silva.
Ready to battle
Aiming higher than last year, coach da Silva’s benchmark is clear: significant improvement. His expectations are focused and achievable. “I am expecting the team’s performance to improve from last year’s tournament,” he stated. “We have been putting in the work individually; now we need to work together as a unit.”
Coach da Silva went on to emphasise the importance of the tournament for the growth and exposure of student athletes, stressing that it is about more than just winning matches. “Tournaments like USSA are always important because my players can measure themselves against the best at university level. It serves as a stepping stone to further their careers as cricketers.”
Commenting on the team spirit and chemistry, coach Da Silva said: “The guys are eager to work hard and train hard. They are excited about the tournament because the team atmosphere is exceptionally positive right now, and the players understand their roles and what is expected of them.”
The full squad: Christian Mahlalela (captain), La-Morgane Massyn (vice-captain), Theodolar Khubuza, Damian Araujo, Nkosinathi Tshabalala, Brian Kubayi, Luyanda Oss, Avuyile Mazungane, Preston Govender, Anro Nagel, Junior Msweli, Lesego Mosala, Qhubokuhle Dube, and Omphile Kekana.
The Vaal cricket team is ready to represent the NWU with pride, passion, and purpose.
