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For a Khayelitsha cricketer who started his career in the township league, the chance to ply his talents in the international stage is no small matter by any measure.
Bonga Makaka (18) is one among the up- and-coming hopefuls who have been selected to represent the country in the u/19 tour of India next month.
Makaka said like any other boy from the township, he started out as a soccer player, but fell in love with cricket after he was introduced to the sport by a former coach at age of six years.
He said he fell in love with the sport and the support he received from his family made him concentrate and work hard.
“I played soccer like any other boy from the townships but my family encouraged and supported me to play more cricket,” he said.
He said he saw that he had potential when he was first selected to play for the Western Province u/15 side.
Makaka said his talent was even spotted by the Newlands Cricket Academy School, where he is currently doing his matric.
He said even though playing sport does sometimes disrupt his school work, he finds balance between the two because they go hand-in-hand. Makaka said he represented the province in this year’s Cricket South Africa’s Cubs Week which was held in Stellenbosch.
“There were 89 players from around the country that took part in the competition and I was part of the 15 that was selected to represent,” he said.
It is a year of firsts for him; representing the country, and it will be his first time out of the country. “I’m super excited that I have been selected and I hope to do well, I’m grateful to the family for the support, and I know that even former coaches at the Khayelitsha Cricket club are proud that one of their own will represent the country.”
