Six KZN cricketers in National Academy intake
The names of six KwaZulu-Natal players have been announced in the intakes for the Powerade National Academy squads for men and women announced by Cricket South Africa recently.
Particularly encouraging for KZN Cricket is the fact that four of the six players that have been selected are in the women’s squad with Proteas players Nonkululeko Mlaba and Nondumiso Shangase leading the way with Jade de Figuerido and Gabisile Nkosi making up the other two spots.
After a stellar first season at franchise level which culminated in a number of awards at the CSA Awards, Grant Roelofsen has been selected for the national men’s academy along with young fast bowler Lifa Ntanzi.
Roelofsen's last season culminated in him winning Momentum One Day Cup player of the season nationally and the coveted Domestic Players' Player of the Year at the KZNCU Awards and to be included in the national academy is a step towards his ultimate goal.
"It's obviously an honour to be chosen to be part of a national academy and represent your country in some form," Roelofsen said.
"It is something that I am looking forward to and to be in that pipeline towards the main stage is a step in the right direction and I am very privileged to be a part of.
"I am going to go into the academy very open-minded because there is going to be a lot of information from the various coaches and consultants to take in so I want to try and take as much on board as possible."
Given his inclusion in the academy squad for the next cycle, Roelofsen hasn't been necessarily eyeing a spot in the set-up as it's not how he sets his goals.
"I didn't set this as a goal but to be included is a massive thing for me and at the end of the day I want to play at the highest level so this is an important step for me to getting to that end goal," he added.
The national academy is an important step in the careers of these players and it’s only going to benefit them in the long term.
“To have so many players called up to the national academy is a fantastic feather in the cap for these players,” CEO of KZN Cricket Heinrich Strydom said. “It’s exciting that they will be working with some of the best minds in the game and will have the opportunity to grow in that environment.
“Being part of the national academy can only give the players more confidence to continue to strive to become the best cricketers that they can be and push for higher honours in the future.”
