CSA shows Under-17 hopefuls the way forward

Cricket South Africa (CSA) invited 24 of South Africa’s up and coming under-17 players to a high performance camp that started on Thursday in Potchefstroom. This camp is the culmination of regional visits made throughout the country where two days were spent with the best players from each franchise. The best players out of a total of 140 players were selected to take part in the camp. The goal is to grow and identify potential national players.



CSA Youth Cricket manager Niels Momberg is very excited to see the camp kicking off and the players making the very first step towards their future. He said: “This camp will play an important part in building a better tomorrow for both CSA and the players themselves. These players are some of the most promising under-17s in the country and we want them to be prepared for the future. They are now a part of the high performance programme and they have made a significant step towards playing for the SA under-19 squad, following in the footsteps of players like Wayne Parnell, Reeza Hendricks and Mangaliso Mosehle.”



The camp will consist of lectures, physical and mental assessments as well as tactical and technical training. The players will also be tested in fitness and skill in front of national selectors and the regional talent scouts who chose them.



Camp Co-ordinator John Bailey said: “We want these chosen guys to put their all into this camp. The worst thing a player can ever do to themselves is put themselves in a situation where they have to ask themselves ‘if only.’ We want them to give everything of themselves and empty their tanks to see where all that hard work will take them.”



Linda Zondi is a talent scout for the Sunfoil Dolphins. He is very happy with the crop of players that they have selected; “From both an overall and a transformation point of view, I am satisfied we as scouts have done a great job. We want these players to reach the under-19 level and even further. The school days are over, it’s make or break time and this is the entry level to professional cricket; future Proteas are in this camp and we want to ensure we give them all the support they need,” he said.



Karabo Mogotsi is excited to have been identified as one of the 24 players. He is humbled that Gauteng’s scouts saw such a great deal of potential in him, “Being selected for this camp just tells me that I need to push more in order to reach the ultimate dream; the Proteas,” he said.



The camp ends on Sunday when a team will be selected to play the national women’s team who are also in camp in Potchefstroom ahead of their series against England in October.