Ngazibini
Sigwili simply can't stop smiling every time the topic of his mother, Bulelwa
Sigwili, is brought up to discussion. He relentlessly keeps praising her for
his recent cricketing success.
The success'
of him being selected for the SA Youth U19 squad in January earlier this year
is a dream in which he’s always wanted to fulfil. This is after his mentor and
Border U19s cricket coach, Raymond Booi, praised the left-handed fast-medium
bowler's talents; advising him about the ability he has to make history for his
school, Hudson Park High School which is based near the coastal areas of East
London, and for Border Cricket -who Sigwili treasures dearly.
Sigwili, 18,
who’s currently doing his matric at Hudson Park High School, has always
associated himself around positive people since the tender age of nine. It was
around that age when a group of his peers insisted he should continue playing
cricket, than to pursue a rugby career -a sport which Sigwili was highly
passionate of. However, the young Sigwili
didn't understand what all the fuss was about. To him cricket under the
swelling East London heat, on the George Randall Primary School cement wicket,
took far too long; drained his entire afternoons which never left him amused
when he had to walk back home in the late sunset hours of the afternoon. It was
until Sigwili's left-handed deliveries slowly started drawing familiar crowds
of various school pupils from around the area when Sigwili began to notice the
raw talent he possessed within him.
"It was
at George Randall Primary School where my cricket career all began. I started
seeing people being extremely happy when they would come watch me bowl after
their classes in the afternoon. Some people who were in George Randall Primary School
before but were then in high school, would go back to the primary school just
to watch me bowl. That's when I knew that I should start focusing a little on
my cricket." said Sigwili while reminiscing about all those incredible
moments.
After much
success in the Standard Bank U13 cricket week representing Border, Sigwili was
soon approached by Hudson Park High School where he received a three-year
scholarship with the prestigious school. It was also in Hudson Park where
Sigwili was highly inspired by Chevrolet Warriors All-rounder, Ayabulela
Gqamane. In 2011 Sigwili was selected amongst 30 other cricketers from across
the country for the Cricket South Africa (CSA) National Academy. This was a
set-up by CSA which closely watched school cricketers around South Africa in an
18 month period for National Academy selection. His superb form in the
Coca-Cola Khaya Majola U19 Cricket Week guaranteed him a squad selection into the
SA U19s squad for the Youth Test and ODI series against England U19s.
Many of the school cricketer’s first encounters with SA U19
coach, Ray Jennings, is always perceived as a dreading story; but luckily for
Sigwili, his first encounter with "The Jet" was in a more peaceful
environment; away from all the heart-throbbing trials. "Coach Jennings
wasn't with us at the national camp, so my first encounter with him was when I
had initially made the SA U19 side. Since I started working with Jennings, I've
managed to reach certain fitness levels I've never thought I would because of
coach Jennings" humbly explained Sigwili. Unfortunately
it was a groin injury that saw Sigwili side-lined from the Coca-Cola Youth Test
series against England in the latter days of January earlier this year. Not
feeling down and dusted by the exclusion from the starting XI, Sigwili kept on rehabilitating
his groin injury with SA U19 physiotherapist, Megan Dutton, ensuring himself to
be fully fit for the upcoming Coca-Cola Youth ODI series which was then to be
the following clash with the British visitors in February.
It was in
the Youth ODI series against England where Sigwili's SA U19 team continuously
displayed sterling performances throughout the series to see England U19s being
white-washed 5-0 in the series. It took a much motivated Sigwili, who finished
with 12 wickets in the series, the most wickets taken by a bowler in the
Coca-Cola Youth ODI series. Sigwili took a thrilling 4/43 in the 4th Youth ODI
match which saw him walk away with the man of the match prize.
So what's
next for the East London-based rising superstar? According to Booi, the Border
Cricket Union is assured to look after him –even if it means leaving Sigwili in
the hands of the Eastern Province Union, its cricketing neighbouring union. “As
Border Cricket we are going to look after him. We shall try pulling all strings
to put him into an institution he desires to further his cricket and education,
even if that means him moving to Port Elizabeth and studying at the Nelson
Mandela Metropolitan University. The main objective with Ngazi [Sigwili] is for
him to play for the Chevrolet Warriors in the next couple of season when he’s
ready to play professional cricket. His development shall be very vital for
Eastern Cape cricket as a whole as we are short of left-handed bowlers,” said
Booi.
-Mandilulame
Manjezi
@JizzyJakesTheIn
Picture Source: Gavin Withers Photography cc
