CAPE TOWN. – The Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA), one of South Africa’s pioneers of investing in the acceleration of black African stars, and Sport4kids have joined hands to assist six black African clubs with a senior and junior kit to boost the participation in the township clubs in the Western Cape.

Nyanga Cricket Club, Mandalay, Delft, Du Noon, Mfuleni and Philippi were the beneficiaries at a handover-ceremony on Thursday 17th September.

“We are indebted to Sport4kids and their commitment to assist disadvantaged clubs in this way. We believe that this can benefit the clubs and increase their numbers,” said Nabeal Dien, chief executive officer of the WPCA.

“The existence of the Newlands Cricket High School, our winter high-performance programs, the Langa Cricket Festival and our consistent endeavours to empower coaches and run the hubs programs, underline our investment in increasing the number of black African stars who play the beautiful game,” Dien added.

“The heart-beat of the game is at school and club level and we salute every effort to support the club game.  We believe that the next Makhaya Ntini, Thami Tsolekile or Temba Bavuma can emerge from one of these clubs, thanks to the investment of Sport 4 Kids,” said Beresford Williams, president of the WPCA.

Lutando Mvenya from Delft Cricket Club said he is grateful to WPCA for supporting township cricket and for the strategy to support black cricket. “This is the proof of what the WPCA is doing for the Black community.”


“I would like to express my heartfelt praise to WPCA and Sport 4 Kids for the equipment they have given us today,” said Sibulele Mnqeta of Mandalay Cricket Club. “It is going to help us at the club and it will go a long way in sustaining the club’s aspirations towards the 2015/16-season.”

CAPE TOWN – Western Province (WP) suffered a major collapse on the second day of play in their Sunfoil 3-Day Cup fixture against North West (NW) at Sahara Park Newlands on Friday, 17  January 2015.

Following his 91-run batting innings, Shaheen Khan also starred with the ball when he picked up six wickets for 56 runs in 21.5 overs to reduce NW to 224 all out in the first innings. Travis Muller, Brandon Young, Thokozani Peter and Emmanuel Sebareme all chipped in with one wicket apiece.

Brett Pelser was the top run scorer for NW with 67 runs off 98 balls.

WP went on to their second innings with a 36-run lead and openners Matthew Kleinveldt (21) and Pieter Malan (31) set the foundation for their team with a 51-run opening partnership. Fast bowler Brett Pelser gave NW the breakthrough when he got Malan caught behind in the eighteenth over of the innings. It was at this point that things started going out of shape for the home side as they lost the remaining nine wickets every three overs on average and they managed to score a mere 108 runs in 45.5 overs in the second innings.

Pelser and medium bowler Brady Barends took three wickets for fourteen runs apiece and were assisted by Dieter Klein and Armandt Erasmus who returned with 2 for 37 and 2 for 41 respectively.

The target is 145 runs for NW and at close of play, they are 85 for 1 in 20 overs.  They require another 60 runs to win the match.

Putney CC in conjunction with Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA) has done their bit to ensure that the development of young cricketers continues by donating a small contribution to an underprivileged cricket player.

Xolile Baka was the recipient of Putney CC’s generosity. Baka, a young and aspiring batsman from Lower Crossroad in the Philippi Township, is currently a 2nd Year Sport Management Student at CPUT. Baka plays for Green Point CC, a club currently playing in the 1C division.

The 22yr old batsman is considered to be a talent by the WPCA. Having grown up in a poverty stricken community, and taking into account the amount of talent that the player possesses, WPCA approached Putney CC and requested that they contribute to the development of the youth. Putney CC in return, have given Baka a R5000.00 bursary as well as a cricket kit to aid the youngsters’ progress as a cricketer.

Speaking on the matter, Baka said, “I am grateful of the contribution Putney CC made towards my studies and for the kit donation. I hope that they will continue helping other cricketers in need.”

Speaking at the handover ceremony, WPCA General Manager Mr Nabeal Dien said; “This is another example of utilising those who have resources to assist our really indigent players. Xolile will grow in confidence with this assistance. I do hope this will translate into great cricket performances.”

WPCA would like to thank Putney CC for their contribution and hope that other clubs will follow Putneys’ example of helping underprivileged cricketers.

Khayelitsha Cricket Club (KCC) are the new the champions of the fifth Annual Amacal’ eGusha Township Cricket Tournament after beating Nyanga Cricket Club in the final on Sunday.

Twelve (12) township cricket clubs from around the cape region participated in this T20 tournament where the winner gets to win a sheep. KCC had a superb run in the tournament, they bowled out all their opponents below fifty (50) the highest target being 47 runs by Nyanga CC in the final.

The tournament is modelled on the historical Amacal’ eGusha (meaning “half sheep”) Cricket Tournament that has been taking place in the Eastern Cape for decades.

Although it has been running for just five consecutive years in Cape Town, attracting sponsorship for this tournament remains a challenge. “It is healthy for our townships to hosts tournaments like these and in a long run we at Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA) would like to reward the winners with more than just the traditional sheep in the future”, WPCA Development Cricket Coordinator Ezra Cagwe commented.

“This tournament that has become an annual event is crucial for not only to identify potential talent but ensuring that we also respect historical items that have relevance to our township communities. It once again proved to be well received and successful,” added WPCA General Manager Nabeal Dien. 

The Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA) in conjunction with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) recently held a function at Sahara Park Newlands where clothing apparel was issued to the cricket clubs that form part of the club development program of WPCA. This initiative is funded by DCAS.

WPCA General Manager, Nabeal Dien said, “Our township clubs require any form of assistance they can get and this gesture from  DCAS only enhances and improves the capacity of these clubs. The tracksuits given to these clubs will create uniformity in their first and second teams, provide an enhanced level of self esteem and self confidence and I do hope that this can translate into improved performance on and off the field.”

Chairman of the Black African Clubs committee, Melikhaya Gadeni added, “On behalf of the township clubs I would like to thank DCAS and WPCA for assisting our clubs for the past three years with equipment, playing gear and now tracksuits. Nurturing young talents and promoting the game of cricket is not easy in the township areas and this kind of support from WPCA and DCAS encourages us to continue giving our voluntary services to the game we all love.”

Day 3 got underway as scheduled at Chatsworth Stadium.  Qaasim Adams and Matthew Kleinveldt who ended day 2 undefeated with an 89-run third wicket partnership for WP resumed their innings and went on to produce a 3rd wicket partnership of 104 runs until Adams was bowled out in the fifth over of the day for 66 by former WP player Dane Paterson. Captain Kleinveldt was hoping to get a result out of this game when he decided to declare WP innings of 235/6 at lunch giving KZN a 5 runs 1st innings lead.

KZN opening batsmen, Chad Bowes and Nashen Govender made use of a wicket that provided little assistance for the bowlers when they produced an opening stand of 104 runs. It was Johan Bothma who gave WP a much needed breakthrough when he dismissed Govender who fell just 3 runs short of his half century but it was rather a little bit too late as the damaged was already done by the two batsmen for KZN and there was not enough time left for the day’s play.

At tea, after seeing zero chances of a possible result, the two captains decided to settle for a draw. At that stage, KZN were 105/1 leading by 110 runs and WP were still yet to bat their second innings to chase the target down.

The two teams will face each other one last time tomorrow in the CSA Provincial One Day Competition.

Match scores will be updated on twitter @wp_cricket and on our facebook page "Western Province Cricket Association."

The Annual Solomon Makhosana Under 12 Talent Identification tournament commences on Saturday, 22 September 2012. The tournament aimed at identifying talented Black African cricketers and encouraging participation in cricket by township youth will take place at Langa Cricket Club, Khayelitsha Cricket Club, Gugulethu Cricket Club and Willows Cricket Club with two 20 over matches taking place at each venue respectively from Saturday, 22 Sep and Sunday 23 Sep 2012.

Development Cricket Coordinator, Ezra Cagwe said "This tournament will not only identify cricket players, it will also assist them with life and cricket skills and increase the number of Black African players in our provincial sides."

A squad of 18 players will be selected into the Black African Township Academy which will be trimmed down to a team of 12 players who will represent the mentioned academy at the National Under 12 Cricket Week in Worcester in December 2012.

The public can contact Ezra Cagwe (Development Cricket Coordinator) on any queries on the tournament on
+27 83 542 3337.

At its Annual General Meeting this week, the Western Province Cricket Association announced a profit of R1,762m for the 2011/12 financial year, against a prior-year loss of R919, 000. Revenue increased by R3,3m while expenses remained in line. Debt was reduced by R1,2m. The WPCA also improved its Balance Sheet position by revaluating the land value of the Newlands Stadium resulting in an increase of property, plant and equipment from R62m to R88m.

Noting that the Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras had won their fifth trophy in four seasons and produced new stars such as Vernon Philander and Richard Levi at international level, the President Beresford Williams also announced a focus on grassroots cricket in the coming season.  

An allocation of R500 000 has been set aside to help with worthy projects at club level.The WPCA is, moreover, hoping to announce a new sponsor for the club leagues this season. A weekly tv series on Cape Town community TV will also kick off soon, and the WPCA has entered an agreement with Die Son newspaper to increase club cricket’s profile in the print media. Finally, application has been made to the new transformation fund of Cricket South Africa to increase by more than one hundred the numbers of scorers, umpires and coaches amongst women and in African areas. The above will come on top of the R7 million already budgeted for amateur cricket in the province. The President also mentioned that constructive negotiations were underway with the City to improve club facilities, which are crucial to keeping the grassroots game strong.

Issued on behalf of WPCA by Prof. Andre Odendaal (CEO).
Enquiries to Ameena Smith (Company Secretary) : Ameenas@cricket.co.za

This serves as a reminder that the Western Province Youth Cricket Association (WPYCA) Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday 03 September 2012 in the South Club, Sahara Park Newlands Cricket Ground, Gate 10 entrance, Campground Road, Newlands at 18h00.

IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT ALL OUR SCHOOLS/CLUBS BE REPRESENTED AT THIS MEETING.
Certain decisions/resolutions will take place a this meeting that could affect your school/club and your absence could mean that you would be bound by these decisions without expressing your opinions.

Below are all the relevant nomination forms which mus reach the WPCA offices (email camillaha@cricket.co.za or Fax +27 21 657 2060) by no later than Monday 27 August 2012 at 17h00. Also please note the following with respect to changes to the constitution:

14,5 "Fourteen days notice of proposed motions to be dealt with at an Annual General Meeting shall be given in writing to the Secretary. Such motions must be accompanied by a Memorandum. Such motions must appear on the agenda of the Annual General Meeting which shall be circulated with the notice of meeting."