Young Sigwili On The Rise

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

www.jizzyjakes.blogspot.com

@JizzyJakesTheIn

Picture Source: Gavin Withers Photography cc