Border Cricket celebrated their End of Season Function with a Gala Dinner on Friday 07 April 2017 to conclude the 2016/2017 Cricket Season. The Annual Awards Gala Dinner took place in an elegant President’s Suite at Buffalo Park to acknowledge the excellent performances by various individual cricketers, officials and teams.
There were numerous individual prizes awarded with the number of SA representatives increasing each year. This season, it was again the Border Women’s team that won silverware, and had their best season ever. The Border Women’s team received the shield for winning the Coastal 50 over competition. They also made it into the Top 6 Competition for next season 2017/2018 after their performance in Bloemfontein at the recent Women’s National Week. The Border Village team also made it to the top of the Rural Coastal Competition for the first time.
The Premier league was very exciting this season with University of Fort Hare representing Border at the Club Championships. Bohemians Cricket Club will be representing Border in the Community Cup which is currently being held in Pretoria.
The winners of the various competitions and awards for the season are;
2nd League - Kwelerha Cricket Club
Premier Reserve League - United Cricket club
Border Reserve League - Stutterheim Cricket Club
Promotion League –Healdtown Cricket Club
Border T20 Competition - Bohemians Cricket Club
Premier League – University of Fort Hare Cricket Club
Border’s National representatives were also honoured with individual awards and prizes:
SA U17 RURAL BOYS
Iviwe Qengwa
Bayolise Tunyiswa
Peter Mahluko
SA U19 GIRLS
Ghandi Jafta
Siyamthanda Mhletywa
Nobulumko Baneti
SA WOMEN’S TEAM
Ayabonga Khaka
SA U17 BOYS
Thando Ntini
SA COLTS
Jason Raubenheimer
Siphamandla Krweqe
SA SCHOOLS
Sinethemba Qeshile
Akhona Mnyaka
SA U19 BOYS
Jason Niemand
Akhona Mnyaka
Siphamandla Krweqe
SA MEN ACADEMY
Kabelo Sekhukune
Sithembile Langa
Bongolwethu Makeleni
SA RURAL MEN
Luxolo Tsewu
COACH & MANAGER
Mfundo Gege (Manager) – SA U17 Rural Team
Lwando Lwana (Coach) - SA Rural Team Men
Woman’s Bowler of the Year – Angelique Taai
Woman’s Batsman of the Year – Shafeeqa Pillay
Woman’s Player of the Season – Ayabonga Khaka
Men’s Bowler of the Year – Phaphama Fojela
Men’s Batsman of the Year – Gionne Koopman
Men’s Player of the Season – Phaphama Fojela
President of Border Cricket, Tando Ganda congratulated all achievers in particular the Bowler and Player of the Season, Phaphama Fojela who has had a very impressive season also taking five-wickets on three occasions. Other 5 wicket hauls were taken by Ayabulela Gqamane and Thandolwethu Mnyaka. Centuries were scored by Marco Marais, Martin Walters, Christiaan Jonker, Mkhululi Calana and Gionne Koopman.
CEO of Border Cricket, Thando Booi also paid special tribute to volunteers of Border Cricket and members of the community who supported and contributed towards cricket in the Border region. He also thanked the main sponsors for the night, Mercedes-Benz for their wonderful contribution towards the Awards Dinner. He acknowledged all stakeholders, media, Department of Sport and Buffalo City Municipality for their generous support. Special gratitude was also expressed to CSA for acknowledging, supporting and safeguarding the transformation gains at Border Cricket.
At the end of the night Booi said “We have had mixed fortunes this season, with good performances not necessary ending up in good results. On several occasions the team had dominated matches, being in a winning position and ended up losing the game.
