THE cricket bosses are confident that Eastern Province will make a huge impact at the various age group tournaments that start on Friday.
After a rigorous selection process, the EP sides have been named for these tournaments and the players are ready to produce the goods.
“We know they will make us proud.
“The Eastern Cape has a rich cricketing pipeline and we look forward to these players making their mark on the national circuit,” the EP CEO, Eugene Jacobs, said.
The U/13 boys will be the team to get EP’s onslaught underway on Sunday. The U/13-week will be played in Gauteng at various venues till December 6.
EP will be represented by two U/13 teams, with four players from Graeme College in the A-team.
In the B-side, Westering Primary has the most players in the side, with three boys.
The U/16 boys will also play in Gauteng. That week will be held from December 11-14.
“It has been a bit tricky this season to try to prepare the players for the national week in the middle of their exam time,” the U/16 coach and former Warriors player, Warren Bell, said.
“We started our preparations early in this month, dividing the players into smaller groups for specific training.
“Preparation is coming along now with practices and warm-up matches.
“Things are falling into place nicely,” Bell said of the hard work that has been done.
He reckons he has a very good, balanced team to take to the tournament.
“There are very skilful players in the squad and players who have played in national tournaments before.”
Jordan Strydom (Grey) will captain the team and Bell sees him as one of the players who will play an important role with a big contribution at the week.
“Stuart Falconer (Grey) is a good all-rounder and also a player to look out for. He bats in the middle-order.
“Dayalan Boyce (Westering) is a talented fast bowler and Brayden Andrews (Pearson) is another opening bowler whom we expect to make a huge contribution.
“Everyone in the squad is a well organised, skilful player. We will take it game by game, stick to our processes and the results will look after themsemves,” Bell explained.
Teams
EP Boys U/13 A:
Joe Stone, Sonwabise Gotyana (both Clarendon Park), Kits MacConnachie, Connor Holder, Zuko Pontshi, Elgionio Oerson (all Graeme College), Liam van Aardt, Suchin Cornelius (both Muir), Cale Price (Summerwood), Nathan Trystsman (Sunridge), Leader Kraai (Union Preparatory), Jay-Reece Madatt (Westering), Connor Parry (Grey Junior).
EP Boys U/13 B:
Aiden Mitchell (Westering), Alex Hunter (Union Prep), Ben Owen (Lorraine), Caleb Jattiem (Graeme College), Delon Blignaut (Westering), Ethan Constable (Muir), Ibenathi Kondile (Port Alfred), Kiaan Aylward (Sunridge), Lubabalo Mpalala (St George’s College), Luke Mason (Grey Junior), Petrus Wolfaardt (Volkskool), Sibabalwe Deliwe (Westering), Stefan Trytsman (Sunridge).
EP Boys U/16:
Jordan Strydom (Grey), Brayden Andrews (Pearson), Dayalan Boyce (Westering), Kian Cambler (Grey), Jaydwyn Cona (Daniel Pienaar), Jaydin Damons (Pearson), Stuart Falconer (Grey), Tristan Grundlingh (Grey), Luphelo Mdysha (Graeme College), Thandolwethu Mnyanda (Kwazakhele), Murray Tyson (Graeme College), Akhanani Willem (Alexander Road), Murray Wilson (St Andrews College).
