Cricket South Africa (CSA) has announced the squads for the Division Two teams participating in the CSA T20 Knockout Competition.
This year, the CSA T20 Knock Out Competition will be played by the seven Division Two provincial teams and the SA U19 Men’s team.
The competition will see two pools of four teams each battle it out in the group stages to secure a spot in the semifinals.
Pool A teams will play at the Pietermaritzburg Oval, while Pool B will be based at the Buffalo Park Cricket Stadium. The venue for the finals will be communicated in due course.
For this season, CSA is undertaking a deliberate campaign to lead the fight against Gender-Based Violence, a scourge that has affected hundreds of South Africans.
The domestic teams across men and women’s cricket will carry the tag #ENDGBV on the back of their 2022/23 kit in all formats.
The CSA Women’s Provincial One-Day and T20 Cup having already kickstarted their season campaign this past weekend, whereas the Division Two teams will continue to drive the ##ENDGBV public pronouncement with the upcoming T20KO competition.
Provincial coaches commented on the season ahead as chances of promotion to Division One are looming for the Division two teams. The teams have also showed their support to rally behind the call to #ENDGBV in all forms.
Northern Cape Heat Head Coach, Mark Charlton, said; “We want to pick up from where we left off last season, taking in all the lessons and improving where necessary. Most of our squad from last season is back and new members have settled in comfortably, which gives us the confidence we need.
“Our preparations have gone well. We are fully prepared for the tournament and the rest of the season. It’s important to start well to set the tone for the season and create good momentum.
“#ENDGBV is a massively important conversation for all South Africans. We are behind CSA and support this worthy cause fully. We have important women in our lives, whether it’s a sibling, a spouse, or a parent and we want to create safe spaces for them,” said Charlton.
AET Tuskers Head Coach, Grant Morgan, said; “As the Tuskers team, we want to prepare well and work hard for all competitions, staying focused on the goal.
“Losing our former head coach in the last stage of the pre-season to new opportunities, has also been a challenge for the team. However, we are confident that we will be able to harness the team as we know them well.
“All tournaments are an opportunity for us to grow our brand and our union. This will allow us to improve ourselves in different aspects of life, and the overall functioning of our union. Similarly, the #ENDGBV campaign speaks to us as a brand that strives as a team to promote love, fairness, compassion and empathy to all.
“It is extremely important for us as an organisation to condemn this scourge that has been going on in our country for far too long,” said Morgan.
Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers Head Coach, Piet Botha, said; “Our plan sounds very simple, take it game by game. Our preparations for the season have gone seamlessly and we were able to integrate our new players into the set up.
“Besides it being a confidence booster, success in this competition will set the tone for the season for us as the goal is clear of where we want to end up when the season concludes.
“We understand how South Africa, especially women and children, have been largely affected by this violence. Wearing #ENDGBV on our backs is almost poetic, as this is a collective responsibility for all of us to carry. We hope we can be able to create the awareness and the education that will reach every South African and make an impact,” said Botha.
Eastern Cape Iinyathi Head Coach, Paul Adams, said; “We are working hard as we are mid-table in the log and believe we have nothing to lose this season. We have to play with a lot of positivity, and as hosts, we are ready to throw the first punch.
“We have just played the Warriors at the Ngumbela festival and that tested our readiness as a team. This is an exciting format, and my one word to the players is to go out there and express yourselves, approaching all games with a positive sentiment.
“EC Iinyathi is fully behind the #ENDGBV call to action. An important campaign as the abuse does not only affect the victims physically, but also has long-lasting mental effects which go on to affect the next generation,” said Adams.
Mpumalanga Rhinos Head Coach, Gordon Matheson, said; “We have tried to broaden our squad this season, bringing in players who will be able cover us in all formats of the game. Our team has been working hard in the pre-season with various warm up matches against the prominent university sides and we are ready to go all the way and lift the trophy.
“The #ENDGBV campaign has really brought us an understanding of how important and how prevalent gender-based violence is. None of us can keep silent anymore. We are a team that has female members in the technical team, and we want to ensure that they feel safe and are part of a healthy team culture,” said Matheson.
Eastern Storm Head Coach, Sandile Masengemi, said; “This year is very important in the cricket set-up. We know that our team did not do well last season and this year serves as a chance for us to make a comeback.
“Our aim is to finish amongst the top three in all formats. So, if we do well in this opening competition it will inspire a lot of confidence going forward with the season.
“We are very inspired by the #ENDGBV call to action. As sportsman we have a voice, and we hope that we can lead with confidence and make an impact with this injustice that our country is facing,” said Masengemi.
Limpopo Impalas Head Coach, Dumisa Makalima, said; “In essence there was no off-season for the team as we’ve had a thorough winter schedule. Even with our players who were overseas at the time, they have been hard at work with the various teams.
“Success in this competition will bring us immense satisfaction. There is a lot to play for. We have a shared plan on the vision and environment that we want to build for Limpopo Impala Cricket.
“Gender-based violence is a term that we have been hearing a lot. But we know that this is not just a term, this is a crime, an injustice to those who are unable to defend themselves. This initiative made us believe that we are standing for a powerful course, and we can use our voices to bring about change,” said Makalima.
Competition fixtures are attached. Take a stand, and make the pledge to #ENDGBV.
DIVISION TWO SQUADS FOR T20KO
NORTHERN CAPE HEAT: Ernest Kemm, Grant Thomson, Hanu Viljoen, Rivaldo Moonsamy, Bafana Mahlangu, Andrew Rasemene, Tsepho Ntuli, Benjamin Van Rensburg, Gerhardt Abrahams, Juan Landsberg, Johan Van Dyk, Romano Terblanche, Jerome Xaba, CP Klijnhans.
Management: Mark Charlton (Head Coach), Deon Carolus (Assistant Coach), Storm Clark (Trainer), Sharee Hendricks (Physio).
TUSKERS: Cameron Shekleton, Michael Erlank, Tian Koekemoer, Jonathan Vandiar, Andile Mokgakane, Kurtlyn Mannikam, Gareth Dukes, Keith Dudgeon, Nduduzo Mfoza, Alindile Mhletywa, Dilivio Ridgard, Thamsanqa Kumalo, Stefan Tait, Malcolm Nofal.
Management: Grant Morgan (Head Coach), Athi Maposa (Assistant Coach), Nick Perreira (Physio), Daiyaan Solomons (S&C).
SIX GUN GRILL GARDEN ROUTE BADGERS: Blade Capell, Matthew Christensen, Andre Malan, Onke Nyaku, Jhedli van Briesies, Hanno Kotze, Tyrese Karelse, Sean Whitehead, Marcello Piedt, Basheer Walters, Herchell America, Pheko Moletsane, Jarred Jardine, Sintu Majiza.
Management: Piet Botha (Head Coach), Gurshwin Rabie (Assistant Coach), Tyler Easton (S&C), Arishna Maghoo (Physiotherapist).
EASTERN CAPE IINYATHI: Clayton Bosch, Jade De Klerk, Josh Dodd, Phaphama Fojela,Thomas Kaber, Mncedisi Malika, Marco Marais, Jason Niemand, Jerry Nqolo, Sinovuyo Ntuntwana, Nqaba Peter, Gideon Peters, Joshua Van Heerden, Nonelela Yikha.
Management: Paul Adams, Tumelo Bodide, Shannon Graham, Aneliswe Mntambo.
MPUMALANGA RHINOS: Yassar Cook, Alex Kok, Muhhamed Mayet, Rubin Hermann, Jurie Snyman
Benjamin van Niekerk, Martin Dlamini, Caleb Balich, Lizo Makhosi, Gerald Ngwenyama, Thula Ngcobo, Jon Hinrichsen, Blake Schraader, Tumelo Koto.
Management: Mbasa Gqadushe (Ass Coach), Nicole Schuttleworth (S and C), Neline Hoffman (Physio), Gordon Matheson (Head Coach).
LIMPOPO IMPALAS: Ludwig Kaestner, Thomas Hobson, Liam Peters, Ruan Haasbroek, Sizwe Masondo, Morne Venter, Ntokozo Mahlaba, Sithembile Langa, Zakhele Qwabe, Louren Steenkamp, Maphekgola Pootona, Sahil Patel, Khaif Patel, Skhonza Nxasana.
Management: Dumisa Makalima (Head Coach), Lefa Thaba (Assist. Coach), Xolane Shongwe (S & C) Kholofelo Matshela (Physio).
EASTERN STORM: Matthew Arnold, Amaan Khan, Tumelo Simelane, Sinenhlanhla Zwane, Mangaliso Mosehle, Shane Dadswell, Neo Felane, Nhlakanipho Nxumalo, Aron Visser, Danie Rossouw, Nico Van Zyl, Leander Lubbe, Mark Pearse, Nhlanhla Mashego.
Management: Sandile Masengemi (Head Coach), Bongani Ndaba (Assistant Coach), Russell Clarke (S&C), Caylen Naidoo (Physiotherapist).