Khaya Majola Week returns to Stellenbosch for the first time since 2006

Could the harvest of the Khaya Majola Week of 2022 yield the same quality wine as the previous edition of the tournament that was hosted in the picturesque town of Stellenbosch in 2006?

This year’s tournament will only be the second time that Stellenbosch will host this prestigious tournament.

In 2006 the harvest yielded quite a few Proteas with Keshav Maharaj (Northwood, KZN), Reeza Hendricks (Noord-Kaap), Rilee Rossouw (Grey College, Free State), David Miller (Maritzburg College), Sarel Erwee (St. Charles’ College, KZN Inland), Pieter Malan (Waterkloof, Northerns), Wayne Parnell (Grey High School, Eastern Province), Jon Jon Smuts (Graeme College, Eastern Province) and Mangaliso Mosehle (Johan Jurgens, Easterns) taking an important step in their cricketing careers during this edition of the tournament.

Parnell, Rossouw, Hendricks, Malan and Smuts also played for the South Africa u19-side which reached the finals of the ICC u19 World Cup two years later in Kuala Lumpur.

It will once again be an outstanding feat to secure a SA Schools’ cap in 2022. Two players, Gerhard Maree (Free State) and Liam Alder (Gauteng), will be in action in Stellenbosch after representing the SA u19-side at the ICC u19 World Cup earlier this year in the West Indies.

Alder together with another seven player who will also attend this year’s Khaya Majola Week also helped the SA u19-side be crowned champions of Cricket South Africa’s T20-series earlier this year.

The other seven players are Abdullah Bayoumy, Meeka-eel Prince, Juan James, Liyema Waqu (all Western Province), Thebe Gazedi, Richard Seletswane, and David Teeger (all Gauteng).

From last year’s SA Schools’ team four members will attempt to get a second cap this year with Nathan Jacobs (Boland), Seletswane, Prince, and Waqu all eying selection.

Last year’s SA Colts’ captain, Joe Meyer of Free State, will be looking for an upgrade this year with another four of his Colt-teammates Shelton Ngobeni (Limpopo), Bathabile Masigo (North West), Bayoumy, and James whom will also be in action during the week in Stellenbosch.

Liam Doherty who will represent the Free State at the Khaya Majola Week represented Ireland during the ICC u19 World Cup earlier this year. His grandfather, Mike Doherty, represented Griqualand West’s senior side in his career and also sat on the union’s executive as chairman.

Ben van der Merwe, captain of Border, who will lead the side for a second successive year, also has a famous father. His father, Cassie van der Merwe, represented Border and Free State at first-class level.

The highest score ever at the Khaya Majola Week a mammoth innings of 182 by Rilee Rossouw for Free State against Kei was recorded during the 2006-edition.

Border Kei will make a comeback to the Khaya Majola Week line-up this year. Namibia will also be back after missing out on the 2021-edition in Potchefstroom due to the ICC u19 World Cup.

Our neighbours from up-north will send two teams for this year’s edition to further develop the talent from their country.

Waldo Lategan (138) also scored a century at the week and is one of the up-and-coming umpires within CSA’s system.

Other first-class players who used the Khaya Majola Week as a stepping stone back in 2006 were Jonathan Vandiar (KwaZulu-Natal), Aubrey Swanepoel (Griqualand West), Omphile Ramela (Gauteng) and Rudi Seconds (Border).

The fixtures for Day 1 are:

Boland vs Namibia Cheetahs (Boland Park)
Gauteng vs KwazZulu-Natal (Coetzenburg Oval)
Western Province vs Noordwes (Tassies Oval)
Titans vs KZN Inland (Paul Roos)
Western Province vs Free State (Van der Stel)
Northern Cape vs Kei (Maties C)
Garden Route Badgers vs Limpopo (Spes Bona)
Easterns vs Border (Maties D)
Namibia Welwitchias vs Mpumalanga (Bridgehouse).