- Nkowankowa’s under-19 girls beat Saints Christian School by 26 runs to win the Noordvaal championship.
- The hub started on a dusty school ground and has helped develop professional players and an award-winning coach.
A cricket programme that started on a dusty school ground is producing champions and opening doors for children from rural Tzaneen.
Nkowankowa Cricket Hub’s latest success came when its under-19 girls beat Saints Christian School from North West to win the Noordvaal championship at St Alban’s College in Pretoria.
The tournament brings together school champions from Limpopo, North West, Mpumalanga and Gauteng.
Nkowankowa made 108/8 in 20 overs, then bowled out their opponents for 82 in 18.1 overs to secure a 26-run victory.
But head coach Blessing Mabunda says the hub’s impact goes beyond winning matches.
It brings together players from schools in villages and townships, with most coming from Nkamboko village, Nkowankowa and Mokgolobotho.
Alongside cricket, the programme offers food support and helps youngsters access educational opportunities, including scholarships.
“Through cricket, our learners got exposed to places and platforms, some could not travel as far as Polokwane, but through the hub they have taken flights and stayed in beautiful hotels and went to the ocean for the first time,” said Mabunda.
Bombeleni Primary School teacher Adam Shayi started the hub on a dusty school ground. For more than a decade, it has helped develop talent from the surrounding communities.
Some of those youngsters have gone on to play professional cricket.
They include Don Radebe, who was named Men’s T20 Knockout Player of the Season at the 2024 Cricket South Africa Awards.
Atwell Mokgolobotho, Shelfa Mukansi, Tshepiso Motswi and Mabunda himself are also among those developed through the hub.
In July, Mabunda was named best hub coach at the Cricket South Africa Awards.
Speaking to the Herald, he said helping young people and their families was more rewarding than collecting silverware.
“Trophies only collect dust and are meaningless and I’m proud to know that I’m making an impact in so many people’s lives,” he said.
Mabunda believes cricket also helps keep youngsters away from substance abuse and reduces their risk of teenage pregnancy.
For him, the greatest achievement is giving children opportunities that might otherwise have remained out of reach.
