Geoffrey Toyana The Lion King

It’s so ironic how the story of the Highveld Lions, and the introduction of their new and first black South African franchise cricket coach, Geoffrey Toyana, is such a similar tale with the historical story of The Lion King. From what I recall in the tale, once Simba managed to overthrow this evil uncle, Scar, all peace and harmony welcomed his kingdom. But it wasn’t easy as all sorts of obstacles had to be overcome. The same goes for Toyana. It took some fight coming from the Soweto-born and former Titans batsman, dedication to better his ability as a coach and most importantly passion –for Toyana to get to his sudden minor success of recent.

I had the privilege as a net bowler (during the CLT20 tournament) to train with the Lions franchise team and experience how it feels to be a ‘cub’ under Toyana. The first element I saw and really enjoyed to witness was the mutual respect from players to coach, and vice-verse. Toyana seemed to be a father-figure to the young men in red and white. I saw him making jokes with the 19-year-old batsman, Quinton de Kock, while playfully doing some boxing with talented batsman, Temba Bavuma on the side. It seemed to be a very fun camp. When it was time for a team talk, the boys would then ‘switch on’ and patiently listen to instructions while the king would go on preaching a lecture of importance. Stephen Cook did not feature in the CLT20 tournament, but king Toyana was much eager to give him more than enough batting time in the nets.

It’s really frightening how a season ago the Highveld Lions were an average outfit and this season, the Gauteng team are now such a powerful unit. Since the appointment of Toyana, not only did the Lions achieve the impossible (reaching the finals of the CLT20 tournament and the One Day Momentum Cup) but the atmosphere within the team has also changed. Young players in particular are picking their hand up and are either scoring match-winning runs or taking much needed five-wicket hauls. Every individual seems to be doing their deed towards the success of the team by surpassing minimum requirements that are expected of them –in all formats of the game.   

A team without a lot of superstars or ‘big names’ in the squad (except for former test batsman Neil McKenzie), the Highveld Lions have achieve much success in their little time spend with their new coach king Geoffrey Toyana. The very near future looks bright for Toyana and his crop of young cricketers if they keep their current success consistent. Much praise has been made for the new black franchise coach. All who know him well know that he isn’t threatened at all but any type of pressure.

-Mandilulame Manjezi

@JizzyJakesTheIn

My Journey Through Mamelodi Cricket

It’s a really sad day today. Not because of the overcast, gloomy weather that’s hovering over the beloved township of Mamelodi, but because this is my last Premier League cricket match for a team that’s not just my cricket team –but one team that has become a family to me.

I’m driving to the cricket ground with my very close friend and former first-class cricketer, Mpho Selowa, who relentlessly keeps reminiscing ways to make me look like a fool when I soon get to bowl at him. He plays club cricket for Tshwane University of Technology (TUT); against us today, Mamelodi Cricket Club. He’s a very talented black wicket-keeper batsman this Selowa boy. Sadly he’s now talent that has been wasted because of politics and certain agendas including his character throughout his career.

He’s not the only cricketer though –I could make a list of all the cricketers I’ve met in my very young career, that in some point of their lives have represented South Africa in cricket whether it is school or university cricket –but struggle to even obtain a first-class cricket contract.

Mpho and I finally get to the Mamelodi Oval and immediately start greeting everybody that’s in sight. Some are players I played academy cricket with, some are school youngsters that I’ve heard about, but only see them today for the first time. A few are people I’ve never really liked, simply because they think they’re better than the game and better than other cricketers.

 The weather is really not looking good right now and slowly starts to pour harder onto the historical ground. It now starts to sink in slowly that I won’t have an opportunity to play my last game on the field that has taught me so much about not only cricket, but life and family as well.

Life in this cricket club though was never this peaceful and harmonious. In the two seasons I had spent here, I noticed players being spiteful, jealous and bitter amongst each other. One would blame it on the other player or on the Northerns Cricket Union (NCU). But I later learned that the major problem with the club and why we seemed to face relegation each year was one thing –a lack of black consciousness. We had this attitude that this gentlemen’s sport as it’s famously called was a white/Afrikaner man’s sport.

However in my last season spend here, thing started changing. We got a new administrator in former Northerns cricketer, Patrick Nkuna, and a new coach, Sello “Bra Cry” Sebola, who was indeed very radical in his approach and very enthusiastic in coaching the beautiful game to us. These two men made sure that all players understand the structures of selection by making us challenge each other for first team positions. A 26-year-old would feel so disappointed having lost his place to a young hungry-winning schoolboy cricketer.

I doubt a lot of people can imagine how privileged I was to be sharing the same changing room with cricketers such as Abram Ndlovu and James Mokonyama who once played for the Titans, Thabang Khumalo and Lerato Kgoatle who seem to be the future of black batsmen in Northerns Cricket, if they careers are treated with immense responsibility by the NCU. These cricketers are hugely respected throughout the entire country by professional and amateur cricketers. Listening to their stories, words of wisdom and guidance, such could only be found at Mamelodi Cricket Club –were cricket is more than just a game.

-Mandilulame Manjezi
@JizzyJakesTheIn