It’s the lunch break on the second day of the Chevrolet
Two-Day Friendly match between the Chevrolet Warriors and Chevrolet Knights.
Seated in the Khaya Majola Hall are two men in laughter. Both men are soon
joined at the table by Ayabulela Gqamane, who recently got crowned as Cricket
South Africa’s Best Domestic Newcomer of the Year 2012/13.
Less than six months ago, both these two men joined in
laughter were part of the same team. The one man was a semi-professional
contracted Northerns amateur cricketer, trying to find his feet in the professional
cricket franchise scene; while the other was the cricketer’s former assistant
coach and mentor since their introduction to each other in 2007. “That man has
understood me both as a person and a cricketer. My bowling action and my achievements
are a product of him and Chris’ [van Noordwyk] work,” says the young Tumi
Masekela, while pointing at the Warriors Assistant coach Malibongwe Maketa.
 |
| Tumi Masekela in action for the South African National Academy. Picture: Gallo Images |
After years of hard work, sacrifice and consistent
performances for the Northerns Cricket Amateur side, Masekela, now 26 years-old
and hungry for success as ever, finds himself being rewarded a one-year
contract to play for the Chevrolet Knights. Just the thought of the opportunity
creates a euphoric, almost dream-like, expression on his face. “I’m a big
believer in whatever happens, does so for a reason. I’ve just joined the squad
not too long ago and I’m already feeling like I’m in a good space –a space in
which I feel wanted and appreciated,” says Masekela.
But it’s that type of “good space” he wishes he had when
representing both the Northerns amateurs and the Nashua Titans. Tumi
represented Northerns for five seasons; and in that period, was never granted a
franchise contract with the Titans despite his consistent performances for
Northerns over the years. “One of the main reasons why I was never given a
contract was the issue regarding my pace. They [Titans coaches and selectors] always
kept telling me I wasn’t quick enough for franchise cricket. This was always
their belief –that pace should be one of the main attributes of a seam bowler,”
shared Tumi in sorrow. However, his track record speaks for itself. In 68
First-Class matches since his debut for the Limpopo Province on October 5,
2006; Tumi has taken 179 wickets with an economy rate of just over 3 and an
average of 23.73 –statistic showing he over-qualifies for just being a regular
amateur cricketer.
Despite discussing testing times in his career with me, Tumi
immediately becomes animated once again when the “big-five” are mentioned in
conversation. The “big-five” consisted of cricketers from the Northerns and
Easterns Cricket Union such as Tumelo Bodibe, Sammy Mofokeng, Mangaliso
Mosehle, Rowan Richards and Lesiba Ngoepe who has recently joined the pack.
 |
| BROTHERS FOR LIFE: Tumi Masekela and Mangaliso Mosehle at Nashua Titans training. |
“Those two years went by really quickly. I must admit, living
with Bo’ [Tumelo Bodibe] enhanced my batting skills and kept me believing that
I was still a worthy candidate with the bat. I was initially an all-rounder
when I began my first-class career, but as soon as I moved to Pretoria, all
that seemed to change as they slowly changed me into just being a bowler,”
elaborates Tumi.
The players all shared two apartments together; with
Masekela, Bodibe and Mofokeng in one apartment, and the Titans trio of Mosehle,
Lesiba and Richards in the other apartment. “Usually one tends to miss home when
you away from it for a long period of time, but the feeling of being home-sick
never got to me whilst living with those crazy guys,” Tumi continues to elaborate
while breaking out in laughter.
 |
| NEW BEGINNINGS: Masekela in his Chevrolet Knights gear. Picture: Jizzyjakes Photography |
Masekela quite saddened to have left his friends, his
teammates and his dreams in which he once had in representing the Titans; now
has to focus on settling in at his home town of Bloemfontein. This is the place where
he’s been given the opportunity to achieve what could’ve possibly been the
unachievable to some of his past coaches. “I need to quickly find my feet in
franchise cricket. Now that I’m here, the next short-term objective shall be
trying to get myself in that South Africa A team,” says Masekela.
Although he’s not featuring in the two-day game being played
at the moment, his enthusiasm remains high. The following day might mark his
debut match for the Knights as they play a friendly one day match against the same
Chevrolet Warriors outfit in preparation for the upcoming season. “I’ve been in
the nets the entire morning working on my one day skills. Tomorrow shall be the
day I finally run in for the Knights!”
