Life Skills – SACA | South African Cricketers' Association

Text Info Strip

Proteas Prepare for International Summer as SACA MVP Expands

The South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) anticipates an exciting international summer for both the Proteas Men and Women. Kicking off…

SACA Celebrates Tony Irish on Receiving the Prestigious Tim May Medal of Honour

The South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) is proud to celebrate its founder and former CEO, Tony Irish, who received the…

Kyle Simmonds Crowned Overall Division 1 SACA MVP

The 2025/26 domestic cricket season concludes with Western Province all-rounder Kyle Simmonds named Division 1 Overall SACA MVP. Simmonds earned…

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AYA MYOLI

May 9, 2016March 17, 2026

A picture is worth a thousand words they say … We asked Dolphins bowler Ayavuya Myoli to send us a few snaps that describe him best. And here they are:

Knight Rider: Me with my car at a garage in Bisho, where I’m from. I got the car last year.

Going places: With the help of SACA, I did my learners in Kimberley three years ago. They paid for my learners and the driving school. The union helped me with the actual tests and I passed first time!

Boot Camp: When I go home to Bisho, I help some friends out with a Boot Camp that they set up. The whole thing is basically a Herbalife sales pitch but it doesn’t hurt to do the exercises: lunges, squats, and ladies pushups. That sort of thing. Anyway, I help out where I can.

Moving up: I started at studying Sports Science in 2010 at Fort Hare. I have three modules to go before I complete the degree. I’m planning to complete it using the Player Plus program, but I might be based in Jo’burg next year, so I may have to finish it through Unisa.

High Five: Here’s David Miller high fiving me after wicket in the RamSlam, where we ended up in the final. Every time I got a wicket, the first person to come celebrate with me was David. He is a very chilled guy. I’ve learned a lot from him, not just on the field but off it as well.

Blue steel: Just a bit of modeling stuff I was doing on the side, haha. Some friends of mine that I grew up with in Bisho are serial entrepreneurs. They sell painting, music and clothes. The clothing thing has actually taken off quite nicely and is doing well for them. They asked me to model some of their clothes and hats. How could I say no?

Grassroots development: This was during Nelson Mandela Day. For our 68 minutes of goodwill, kids from various locations outside Durban came to Kingsmead. We did some fun stuff and a few training exercises. We enjoyed it as much as they did!

Limbering up: Fitness trainers tell us what to do in terms of conditioning, and we listen. Preparing for a game, if your warm up is good, you will play better. The warm up can affect your entire game, but more importantly prevent injuries. I take warm ups very seriously in my routine.

Each one teach one: In Durban I stayed at Glenwood as a house master while also coaching the U15A team. The perks were great – like not having to cook! Also, the boy’s commitment is inspirational. They look up to you so you have to meet their expectations.

At the gym: I had a contract last season, and then I lost it. But through SACA, I was able to keep my Virgin Active membership, and that helped me a lot. Now have a contract with the Lions, so I will be able to pay my own way again, but the gym membership helped me keep in shape throughout.

Learning from the masters of spin: In 2012, I went to India with SA’s spinners bowling camp. It was three weeks long, during which I learnt a lot. It’s good to bowl in different conditions. They also taught us different methods – there is a difference in the coaching techniques and the thinking about the game.

Text Info Strip

BY THE NUMBERS…

May 9, 2016March 17, 2026

The SACA Player Plus programme is all about helping cricketers become better human beings. Enabling a post cricket career through some form of tertiary education plays a large role in that. More than R220 000.00 has been spent on bursaries in 2016, while close on R2 million has been spent since 2009. Check out all the numbers…

Text Info Strip

PAIN AND GAIN

May 9, 2016March 17, 2026

Richard das Neves and Cliffe Deacon used SACA’s Player Plus programme to maintain their medical professional status, and their cricketing backgrounds have given them an edge over some of their colleagues.

One incident sticks out in Richard das Neves’ memory when thinking about the most gruesome injury he’s ever seen on a cricket field.

“I can remember a game between Gauteng and Border at UJ,” said the former Gauteng captain, now head coach at the University.

“Temba Bavuma was batting for us and he hit one in the air. Two fielders closed in under the ball, but neither called for the catch. They collided and the knee of the big fast bowler broke the smaller fielder’s leg… badly.

“I was in the final year of my biokinetics studies and everyone looked to me to assist. I could tell straight away that his leg was broken, but you never want to tell the player that up front.”

Das Neves calmed his writhing patient, nodded to another player to call an ambulance and stabilised the injured leg with an improvised splint made out of leg pads.

Wear and tear

Shattered bones are less commonplace in Das Neves’ new profession as a biokineticist based at the Wanderers Medical Centre.

“I’m probably fortunate in that, as a bio, I don’t see many traumatic injuries anymore, I deal more with the final phase of rehab.”

“Cricket is such an overuse-sport,” pipes up Cliffe Deacon. Like Das Neves, Deacon retired in 2014 after a 12-year career with North West and the Lions. He now has a physiotherapy practise in Johannesburg.

“You seldom see acute injuries like you get in rugby, where there are high-speed collisions all the time. In cricket, it’s more of an overuse issue, but you do see things like bowlers suffering from fractured vertebrae…”

Oh so minor stuff then… wait, WHAT!?

“Javelin throwers and fast bowlers are the most prevalent with those sort of stress fractures,” said Deacon, who was once a devastating left-arm fast bowler. “It’s a big overuse injury that comes from repeating the same action all day.”

Deacon would know, his 2005 season was cut short by a spinal compression.

“There’s a big scientific part to recovering from that,” added Das Neves. But in addition to the science, there’s also a degree of intuition. As an ex-cricketer, Das Neves has an intimate knowledge of the types of injuries that occur with cricketers, as well as the techniques that can be used to help them. “When a fast bowler is injured,” he says. “I know the biokintetics of what goes into a bowling action, and we can look at errors in his bowling technique.”

Play to work

Das Neves and Deacon became exercise and healthcare specialists through studies partly funded by SACA’s Player Plus program.

“Player Plus helped me to further my biokinetics studies by doing external courses towards continual progress development,” said Das Neves. “You have to do so many courses every year to stay in touch with developments in your field, and SACA assisted with that.

Das Neves and Deacon both agree that there is an increasing need for something like the Player Plus programme because so many players are not guaranteed to play international cricket or franchise level for an extended period. Having an academic qualification helps players to figure out how to make a living.

“I would give Player Plus a 100 percent recommendation,” said Deacon. “I’ve always been a massive supporter of people taking the onus for development on themselves, and this gives you a great platform to do that.

“Where else do you get paid to play the sport you love, and study a qualification – for free – at the same time that sets you up for the future after cricket?

“You’d be stupid not to take that opportunity.”

Text Info Strip

OMPHILE RAMELA: MENTOR AND STUDENT

May 9, 2016March 17, 2026

Cobras Sunfoil Series captain and SA A player Omphile Ramela shares some insights on the role that the Player Plus programme is playing in his life, and his ambition to improve the general cricket landscape for all professional cricketers

Tell us a bit about your childhood.

I grew up in Soweto, raised by my mother. I started cricket through the Bakers Mini Cricket Program – I think it’s now known as KFC Mini Cricket. I then got a bursary to attend St Peters in Rivonia and then St Johns College.

How much of a personal responsibility do you feel towards mentoring the younger guys coming through?

I think there’s an enormous responsibility, that’s just the nature of cricket – as you go up, you try and pull everyone with you, and as a leader you try and fast-track everyone’s development.

But the best time to pass on any knowledge is in the heat of battle. Once you’re playing together it’s a lot easier to advise and speed up the learning process. I batted with someone like JP Duminy, and my learning experience was certainly enhanced.

You sit on the SACA Exco. What are some of the more common or recurring issues from the players’ side, and the organisation’s side?

From the players, an on-going issue in every sport is that players would like to get paid fairly, and to be rewarded for performing.

From SACA, a large part of the message has been around anti-corruption. That’s been a very strong message. Another strong message has been Player Plus, and how much the programme has grown over the years is an indication of how seriously the organisation is taking it.

What benefits has the Player Plus (PP) programme brought to your life personally?

The Player Plus programme has allowed me to continue studying my Masters (in Economics). To have that financial backup eases a lot of pressure off you. An initial amount is covered and if you pass your course, they cover all the course fees. That’s a great incentive!

I think with the passage of time, players have started to gravitate towards Player Plus. Players are starting to realise that you need to have some kind of backup to make sure that when you exit the game you have an exit strategy.

You’re doing your MA in economics. Tell us a bit about that.

I’ve always been interested in economic history. I think economics is a good way to try and understand the world.

What interests me is this whole idea of incentives and how it motivates people. Should we incentivise people to work hard, and if so, what are the benefits? It’s fascinating if you think about it from a sports perspective.

Players should be rewarded more when they perform than when they don’t perform. That’s how you motivate people to raise their standards. In those moments when they’re doing well they have to feel the full benefit of it. So you need an incentive structure.

If a player scores a massive amount of runs then he should receive financial recognition. Then you’re acknowledging that the player has excelled. I think that’s where we can get better in SA sports in general.

By extension, you could incentivize people to develop black African cricketers. An economist would say, why not incentivize it? You could open it up to the general public and somebody really smart might know how to actually do it, and they’d be rewarded with a real monetary incentive.

And there’s a return on investment for rewarding people financially because we know in return we’re going to get more people at the gate and so on.

Are you satisfied with the pace of transformation in SA cricket?

More needs to be done. It’s only now that there’s a political need that people have woken up. If more was done over the last 15 years, we wouldn’t still be looking for numbers.

You need a lot more representation on merit, and access to facilities and coaching. We need to pay a lot more attention to the schools structures because once you get to franchise level you’re just molding the players.

Offer an incentive structure for anyone who produces players. We need to put a high price on those who produce. I don’t think our system is producing fast enough and we need to open an invitation to anyone who can do, there are some very innovative people in South Africa.

Text Info Strip

EDUCATION EASES THE PRESSURE

May 9, 2016March 17, 2026

A new dawn beckons for Robin Peterson, who gives unique insight into how having an education to fall back on actually makes you a better cricketer.

A white Audi is parked in the driveway of Robin Peterson’s immaculate home in a quiet street in Cape Town’s southern suburbs. The house has been renovated, sliding doors open from a modern lounge onto a built-in braai and pool.

Robbie P has come a long way from the dusty streets of Gelvandale in Port Elizabeth. But in some respects he remains firmly rooted to the values of his past.

“Things have changed in the neighbourhood I grew up in. Kids have got a lot more distractions. In my day, it was quite simple. You played cricket in summer. And we were exposed to quite a lot of sports. Hockey. Football. When Wimbledon was on TV kids would be playing tennis in the streets. It was a great childhood.”

Robin remembers playing street cricket against Alviro Petersen, Ashwell Prince, Garnett Kruger, Shafiek Abrahams and even Russell Domingo – all guys who grew up in his neighbourhood. He was even coached for a while by Allister Coetzee, who actually played cricket for Eastern Province in addition to his rugby career.

Robin’s career has had more ups than downs. As an all-rounder, he could always contribute with the bat as well as the ball. And there’s a trademark intensity to his on-field presence that he laughs off and puts down to meticulousness positioning.

Moving on

But a new era dawns. Robin’s time at the Cape Cobras has come to an end. He got married a year ago, and his wife is five months pregnant. Next season he will play for the Knights in Bloemfontein, and take up a contract for the Caribbean Premier League, where he enjoys playing. There’s a particular enjoyment for the game in the West Indies, he will tell you.

“It’s time to move on,” he says, “and I think the timing is working out nicely at the moment. When you get married you want to spend a bit more time with your family. I’m not one to look back and think I wish I was still there. I’m just seeing it as a new start, an opportunity to do something else with my life now.”

Unless you play international cricket for an extended period, or are fortunate enough to score an IPL contract it’s not feasible to rely solely on cricket to fund a middle-class lifestyle. These days, says Robin, after you’ve finished with the morning cricket practice, the afternoon needs to see you “putting some work in on other department of your life.”

Robin believes that young cricketers should not wait until later to start studying. “Find something that you’re passionate about and start studying immediately,” he says. “Don’t just study for the sake of studying. But don’t wait too long either.”

Some cricketers believe that an organic career will evolve from their cricketing career, but “at the end of the day there are only so many coaching positions available, and so many academies that can open. So find something else that interests you and pursue that.”

Branching out

“The biggest thing with cricket,” says Robin, “is that we played from when we were very young. We didn’t need to think about job satisfaction. It was always there, from the outset. But now all of a sudden, at such a late stage in life, you need to find something else that gives you as much enjoyment.”

To this end, Robin has signed up to do a business course through Milpark Business School. “I’ve always wanted to be involved with sports from a business perspective. And you need to empower yourself in that respect. I believe that sportsmen can bring a different angle to the business sphere. We understand pressure. We understand working in a team environment, and having to be innovative to stay ahead of the game. So there’s lots that we can bring to the party.”

“Guys that study at university gain the academic or theoretical knowledge, but we come with the practical life skills. And if we combine that with a qualification, I believe that puts us in a better space. We could be able to walk into a sporting office anywhere in the world. Who knows?”

Robin doesn’t have any concrete plans yet but is confident that if he combines his qualification with the opportunities to network that an international cricketing stint will give him, his career will grow organically from the field to the boardroom.

He has dabbled in property over the past few years, and has spoken to Ashwell Prince about the possibility of doing some larger scale development initiatives. At the same time, he gives talks at Citadel Wealth Management, giving unique sports-infused insights into business topics like Risk Management and Teamwork.

“I find it interesting going into the corporate spaces,” says Robin. “It’s obviously not something we do as cricketers. It’s quite different, a lot more formal and serious, but I guess that’s where you can add value by coming from such a different perspective. Even if it’s just to lighten the mood a little bit,” he laughs.

The role of SACA

“SACA has always played an important role. Now that I’m a bit older and gone through the system, I realise that education is vital. Educated guys know they have something to fall back on and are thus under less pressure to perform. And if you’re not as pressured to perform, you’re going to be relaxed. And if you’re relaxed, you’re probably going to perform a lot better.”

“When you get to this age, you have to take it one season at a time. It’s not about the money so much, it’s about adding value. Once you feel that you’re not really there in your heart, and you stop pushing yourself physically, then it’s going to become difficult, not only for you but also your family. I’ve never been one to play cricket just for the cash.”

We have a feeling that Robbie P will add value wherever he goes next.

Text Info Strip

RUSTY THERON: TEACHING AND LEARNING

May 9, 2016March 17, 2026

Now studying teaching in Miami, Rusty Theron opens up on some of the teachers and mentors who helped guide him in his own life and career.

How did you end up studying teaching in Miami?

It was a difficult decision. You wonder whether you’re making the worst decision of your life. For me the deciding factor was watching older players holding on for that extra paycheck. That was not really something I wanted to do. Being the guy who doesn’t play at the level he used to; I didn’t want to go out like that. It’s not fair on the franchise and CSA.

I paid for my own studies initially and then Davey Jacobs mentioned that I could apply for a SACA bursary. I wondered whether SACA would help someone studying overseas where it costs almost R200 000, but they came back with a significant contribution which was amazing. And they check in regularly to see how things are going.

SACA’s objective through the Player Plus initiative has always been to educate players and enrich them off the field. As someone who is starting life a little bit later than everyone else, I wanted to get a good degree from a good school so that when I come back to the working world, it would give me more of a step up.

Teaching allows you to go all over the world. It’s a very universal thing. There’ll always be a need for teachers. You also get longer holidays!

Who have been some of the teachers and influencers in your life?

Gary Kirsten

Gary Kirsten gave me confidence in myself.

My greatest cricketing moment was winning against Australia. But I had a shocker against them in Cape Town, going for 42 runs in three overs. I was gutted and I thought it was going to be the end of my career. But Gary backed me for the game at the Wanderers, and Wayne Parnell and I hit 62 off 68 balls. I hit a six off the last ball to win the game. I don’t think it gets better than that, even if you’re a bowler.

I don’t think I’ve ever been filled with more emotion than that. I burst into tears involuntarily, not even realising how I’d come back from what I thought was the end of my career to being Man of the Match the following week.

Davy Jacobs

The person I respect the most is Davy Jacobs, the ex-Warriors captain. He’s just got a very good outlook on life. He’s well directed and has a positive spin, on and off the field. Paddy Upton and Davey Jacobs are two people who have great perspective and that’s everything in life. The way people look at a situation determines where they go from it.

Paddy Upton

Paddy Upton was a pleasure to work with. He was a mediator between Gary and the players, and I spent a lot of time talking to him. He’s quite a philosophical and deep kind of person. His philosophy comes down to: “What is the worst that can happen?”

Eventually I just got a bit of perspective. We seem to make a big deal of things that don’t mean that much in the bigger scheme of things. Even if you lose your job, you’re still a healthy individual.

Russell Domingo

The people I appreciated most were people who were honest with me, encouraging me to take some time to learn about myself. These were the people who could genuinely guide you the most. Russell Domingo was a big part of that, he said: “Look your chance will come.” He always kept talking to me.

When I played my first pro game for the Warriors, Russell was the coach. I think I had a little cry to myself and gave him a hug. I thought: if all I ever do is play this one game, at least I could say I was a pro sportsman. I didn’t take any wickets against the Knights, so it wasn’t the ideal start!

Brett Lee

I’d never really had cricketing heroes, but Brett Lee became one of them. Going to the IPL allowed me to meet up with some amazing people. Playing with Dale and some of the greats of the game. That’s the one thing about the IPL that’s been unparalleled. I first thought I could play pro cricket after I’d played a bit of amateur cricket. But guys like Brett Lee are on another level.

At the end of the day if you surround yourself with a few good people, then you’re better off than having 100 so-called “Friends”. I feel like I’ve learned a lot from life. I pay a lot more attention to people, and I like to observe.

Text Info Strip

THE ALL-ROUNDER

March 22, 2016March 17, 2026

Vernon Philander is one of a growing list of Proteas players who’ve enhanced their long-term career prospects without compromising their on-field careers.

In 2014 the 30-year-old Proteas opening bowler and lower order batsman completed a course in project management through GetSmarter, choosing this course because of off-the-field activities he had become involved in…

“I was involved in a couple of projects but at times I was struggling with the planning and management of them, that’s why I signed up for the course,” Philander explains. “I wasn’t always that organised so sometimes running the projects concurrently was a bit of chaos, but the course gave me some good tools in discipline and management.”

The projects Philander refers to are those run through his Vernon Philander Foundation, established in late 2013 to give back to his community.

“Where I come from many children can’t see that there are opportunities beyond what their brothers, sisters, uncles, and so on are involved in,” he says. “The intention is to give these children a better outlook on life and the tools to cope with it – not everything has to be about gangsterism and drugs. The starting point is Ravensmead, where I grew up, and we work closely with an organisation called Second Chance. One of the guys involved in that project was caught up in drugs while the other has been a world champion dancer. They have shown that you can make something out of nothing, and the way they tell their stories really gets across to the children.”

The inspiration behind Philander’s foundation came through his interaction with Gill Taylor, education and training manager at the Sports Science Institute of South Africa. Taylor is also the national manager of the Macsteel Maestros, both of which the SACA Player Plus programme are partnered with.
“She opened up my mind to the fact that you don’t have to be stuck in where you come from,’ Philander adds. ‘Sometimes we get wrapped up in our bubble thinking we’re stuck in the life we’re in, but we can all make a name for ourselves in our lives.”

One of Philander’s big goals is to expand the reach of his foundation, which is why he felt the need to upskill himself. Through discussions with his SACA PDM, Ruan Schlebusch, they identified the UCT Project Management Foundations course as the perfect one for him. However, his schedule with the national team posed challenges when it came to handing in assignments and writing exams.

“The one moment that stands out was when we were playing against Sri Lanka [in July 2014],” Philander remembers. “The internet connection was quite bad so I was struggling to get something in on time. I have to commend GetSmarter, because they were very understanding of my situation and it’s great that we can write exams anywhere in the world. If I had to do a course where I had to go to class, I would have struggled to fit it in.”

Philander is also thankful for SACA’s support during the 10-week course.

“Ruan was brilliant at checking in that I was still enjoying the course and finding it helpful. The SACA Player Plus programme is excellent motivation for us players to take a little time away from cricket to help set ourselves up for the outside world.”

Buoyed by this experience, Philander plans to tackle another course in the near future.
“I’m looking to do a course in property development, which is also an interest of mine through someone I know,” he says. “By the time I’m finished with the cricket side of things I’ll be able to focus on growing that side too.”

Ordinarily Philander would currently be at the tail end of a cricket season, but instead he has spent the past four months recovering from an ankle injury sustained during a warm-up before the second Test against India last November. He admits it’s been frustrating, but it’s also freed up time to explore even more opportunities beyond the game.

“I’ve become involved in a company called PDV Marketing that does artificial grass – it’s helped me broaden my avenues,’ he adds. ‘The business is growing quite rapidly and it’s helped to take my mind off cricket during a tough time when I haven’t been able to what I love. As can be imagined, it would be tough for anybody to not be able to work for four months.”

When not with physios doing rehab or spending time at his foundation, Philander has also been a regular at Parow Golf Club (where he plays off a 7 handicap) and spending time with his nearest and dearest.

“I always find time for golf,” says Philander animatedly. ‘It’s important to find time to do the things you enjoy – life is so busy that you can sometimes forget about yourself. So every now and again I clear a day or so to get on the course. It helps to clear my mind, as does spending time with my girlfriend. We try hard to enhance each other’s lives by pushing each other to be better. We really enjoy hiking and trail running together, and now that I’m mobile again it’s great to be able to do these things with her.”
Ultimately, Philander believes that if you align all the aspects in your life with the things you’re interested in, you’ll be all the better for it.

“You have to learn to be smart about the choices you make in life. If you do so they will no doubt enhance you as a person. My motto is: Don’t waste time in your life.”

Text Info Strip

SERVICE WITH A SMILE

March 22, 2016March 17, 2026

Every good relationship has to be built on trust, which is exactly how Brad Player describes dealing with players as a SACA Personal Development Manager (PDM).

If there’s anyone who has seen how cricket has changed – particularly in the demands on players – it’s the appropriately named Brad Player. For the past three years Player has been the SACA PDM for the Cape Cobras, Western Province and more recently their Academy players, but his involvement in the professional side of the game dates back to 1984. His playing career spanned an impressive three decades, with Player featuring as an all-rounder for Free State, Western Province and Boland before retiring in 2001.
Ruan Schlebusch, SACA’s National Personal Development Manager, jokes that Player has actually retired lots of times (during his subsequent club career) before giving insight into how the 49-year-old became a PDM.
“We were looking for a solid person who would be trusted by players, and Brad’s name kept coming up. While there’s no set formula for recruiting a PDM we look for someone with experience in personal development and proven facilitation skills. There isn’t a high turnover in the position, and word of mouth is useful when shortlisting for a vacancy. We need people who do it for the right reasons, and share the same philosophy as us,” Schlebusch explains.
Player made a seamless transition into the PDM role.
“When I stopped playing professionally I remained in sports,” says Player. “I’ve worked with sports agencies servicing the sports retail market with wholesale equipment, and I also coach at Claremont CC. Those two jobs allow me to have a ‘mobile’ office, so adding the PDM role to my schedule was possible – a role which I enjoy very much.”
Unsurprisingly, he often thinks back to what life was like when he first came into the game compared to the service he and his colleagues now provide.
“I often joke with Ruan about how the programme could have changed my life,” he says. “Of course circumstances are different for each individual – in my case I didn’t really have family support and people to go to for advice and direction in life. When I first started playing I was 17. It was our so-called entry into the professional era, but at that stage I don’t think we quite knew how to do it – it wasn’t as professional as today. For instance, the thought process back then was to resign if you had been working and got a cricket contract. I initially did my national service after school and straight after that got a job at a corporate company, but it boiled down to making a decision about whether I would focus on my cricket.”
Nowadays such decisions aren’t as black and white any more, which is why Player and his fellow PDMs are trained to help them deal with the ‘grey’ areas. Considering the overall PDM group also has a variety of skills – some are psychologists and others are in education – they keep open dialogue among each other to deal with the changing landscape.
“Our PDMs get standardised training through our partnership with the Sports Science Institute, but we also do individualised fine-tuning work with PDMs on certain spheres,” Schlebusch explains. “For example, with Brad we did modules on facilitation but he has an advantage in other areas because he’s a former player. Thanks to the calibre of PDMs we have, communication is very open. Support and training is provided where needed so that everyone can be confident and competent in their jobs. They constantly phone each other, we have a WhatsApp group and we all meet at least once a year.”
While their discussions often focus on the changing landscape for cricketers, the PDMs stick to fundamentals when they deal with the players.
“We cover three areas,” says Player. “We have to understand the players’ needs, provide dual career support by matching it to the individual person, and we also do life skills facilitation.”
With three teams under their watch, which could amount to 30 players, regular contact could be tricky but Player is in a fortunate position at his old stomping ground.
“I used to play with the coaches who are currently involved there [Paul Adams and Faiek Davids] and they allow me to interact with the players at training. This helps me build a good relationship with the players because I see them often. We are required to interact twice a month with each of the players but I generally see them more often.”
Player expands on the realities the players are faced with: “Initially the drive is to succeed in cricket, but our role in working with the individual as a whole means we have to help them look a little further than cricket. Only a small percentage of players make enough money to be able to invest, for instance… and that’s where the PDMs come in. We have to guide the players in the journey they’ll take through cricket, knowing careers can be quite short-lived, so we have to prepare them for that next step. The nice thing about the programme is that it’s a dual highway – you can do both at the same time.”
Ultimately, it’s mutual understanding that determines the success of a PDM-player relationship.
“You have to build a relationship of trust with the players, it’s not just about ticking a box,” says Player. “With some players it takes a long time before they open up to you, and it’s when they do or they get their driver’s licence or finish their degree that you get the satisfaction. The reward for us lies in their success.”

Text Info Strip

LAW AND (KEEPING) ORDER

February 17, 2016March 17, 2026

Stephen Cook displayed a calm head and sound judgement in making a century on Test debut, exactly the attributes that has helped him beyond the boundary ropes.

If you thought Stephen Cook looked unflappable while meticulously compiling a century on Test debut against England, consider that the 33-year-old has an LLB degree, captains the Highveld Lions, sits on the SACA Executive Committee and is a family man.

“From an early age my parents instilled in me the importance of academics and being well-rounded,” Cook recalls. “Even as my sporting career started to blossom I was always encouraged to apply my mind to my studies. What helped was that I’ve always been a fairly disciplined person and also my mom and dad are both teachers by profession and helped me a lot too.”

So how did the opening batsman settle on law as a field of study?

“It is an interesting story. After school I was going to enrol at RAU, which is now UJ, to study sports management but then I got included in the national academy [that 2002 intake included Hashim Amla, Ryan McLaren, Rory Kleinveldt, Johan Botha and Alviro Petersen] so I ended up not studying. That was probably the biggest blessing for me as it gave me an extra year to mature and find out what I was really interested in so in 2003 I enrolled to do a BCom Law. I wasn’t 100 percent sure if law was exactly what I wanted to do, so I hedged my bets and did economics and law as my two majors. I finished that degree in three years, then took 2006 off from my studies to go and play club cricket in England for Reading CC. When I returned I decided to do an LLB, which took me a further three years, so I had a double degree at the end of it.”

As it happened, Cook broke the South African first-class record by scoring 390 at the tail-end of his final year in 2009, but studying wasn’t all plain sailing…

“It was hard work at times, I won’t lie. What started as a three year degree ended up as a six year endeavour and over that time the game became more and more professional and the time constraints became even tighter.”

Cook further highlights how the changes in the local game altered his schedule.

“I was fortunate that I started my career before the franchise era. We’d have practices at three in the afternoon, which left me with most of my day to focus on studying, but towards the end guys were clocking in at 9am for gym sessions. Once it changed, I had to be incredibly disciplined with my work. However I also had fellow students willing to help me when I missed lectures.”

Despite other sacrifices, Cook sums up that period as ‘good times’…

“I can remember many an evening where the boys were going out to celebrate but I was holed up in my hotel room studying for an exam or a test the next day. There were also a few moments where I felt I was missing out, but in the end it was all worth it. Studying law offered up some interesting cases so when we were sitting in the change rooms there was always a hive of activity around my case law books with the guys asking a lot of ‘what would happen if…’ questions. The guys embraced it and the coaches always understood that studying was an important part of my life and gave me that flexibility to miss a practice or leave early. There a lot of people to thank, without whom it would have been nearly impossible to complete such a tough degree.”

With his recent elevation to the national team, Cook’s focus right now is on cementing his place with the Proteas, but that doesn’t mean his legal training is going to waste.

“In recent years I’ve been on the SACA Executive Committee, which allows me to use my legal background. I see my role as a player representative and I like to think that because I have lots of experience, and am quite mature and level headed I’m a good problem solver and balance everyone’s interests. One of the main causes I’ve been championing has been setting up a players’ committee so that there’s more involvement from us in terms of scheduling, umpiring and disciplinary procedures… all the side issues that people don’t see every day but play a big role in players’ lives. Other things include making sure all the franchise players are on the same page in terms of playing regulations.”

In addition to all these duties there’s his eight-year marriage to Laura, their toddler Elianna, and captaining the Highveld Lions to consider.

“Mary-Jane Goebel, our PDM [Personal Development Manager] at the Lions, has been excellent during the last few years while I’ve been captain, letting me know about summits and alternative ideas and forwarding articles. She makes guys realise that there’s more to life than just cricket, which is particularly important for the younger guys.

“Being a dad also brings a great perspective to life. If I think about it, the times that I’ve played my best cricket have been when I’ve had other things going on in my life. For instance if I got a duck, I couldn’t dwell on it if I had to go write an exam, likewise now when my daughter smiles at me or shouts ‘dada!’ a low score is quickly pushed to the back of my mind. Sometimes I think players get too happy when they do well and too sad when they don’t, so anything that moderates your mind-set can only be good for you. I’m a big advocate in that.”

Text Info Strip

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED

February 17, 2016March 17, 2026

Success. Failure. Disappointment. Perseverance. Dreams. These words begin to describe the journey Kevin Bennett has been on to achieve his objectives.

Kevin Bennett has played for Border since making his debut in the 2005-06 season, but has spent a significant portion of that time as a non-contract player. As a result the 34-year-old batsman has doggedly pursued opportunities outside of cricket.

“In 2001 I started studying at Rhodes University and then moved to NMMU [Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University], but it didn’t work out at either. At Rhodes, I was involved in a confrontation and was excluded during my second year. The following year I moved to NMMU where I played hockey and cricket, but in my second year in Port Elizabeth I couldn’t afford to continue my studies. I was living in an expensive flat in Summerstrand and I was paying for my studies, so I ended up going home where I continued my BCom Economics degree through Unisa while working.”

Back home – and with his ‘wild and loose’ persona behind him thanks to his newfound Christian faith – Bennett made his provincial breakthrough and managed to complete his degree, the first in his family to do so. Those efforts did not go unnoticed and culminated in an invitation to another learning institute in 2007.

“My brother Bevan was studying at and playing for the University of the Western Cape and I was invited by Advocate Nick Kock to come and play there too. Nick, who ran a life skills programme called Sport Skills 4 Life Skills, which encourages guys from disadvantaged backgrounds to play cricket and get an education, wanted me to do a post graduate course there and inspire other students to take their studies seriously.”

His time in the Cape ended up being quite busy as he was balancing the demands of doing a post graduate certificate in education whilst lending a hand at two other learning institutions.

“I worked at MSC Business College in Bellville [as he had done in East London] and concurrently lectured at Damelin College in Somerset West.”

Things were about to change.

“My fiancée was still in East London. We wanted to relocate but she struggled to find a job in Cape Town and in the end I decided to move back home. I applied to some schools and got a job at AW Barnes Primary in Parkside. That was in 2010, and I’ve been teaching there ever since. The school is surrounded by Second Creek informal settlement, and because I’m passionate about community development I’ve tried my best to help the kids, and the community, see that there are opportunities out there for them.”

Bennett understands the value of being given an opportunity to succeed. He and his twin brother Bevan do not come from an affluent family, and it was thanks to sports scholarships that they attended Selborne College where Bevan now teaches and coaches cricket. It was with this in mind that Bennett approached SACA to broaden his horizons even more.

“I remember players going to SACA meetings, but my first real involvement was when I approached Melonie Gobel [SACA’s East London-based PDM] to ask if I could do an MBA. She asked me to get the documentation from Mancosa and said that we would take it from there. I had to pay my registration fee and then, if I passed, SACA would cover my tuition fees.”

It is well known that doing a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) course is extremely demanding, so what was Bennett’s experience?

“Everyone said it would be so difficult, and that it would be almost impossible as a husband, father, teacher and a cricketer, but I’ve got through it and all of those things are still intact, and I am still intact. The highlight for me is that I tested my limits and I now know that I have a work ethic I never had before.”

So, no stressful times?

“The last two to three years were very difficult because I haven’t slept much, I’d wake up at three in the morning, study, then go to work, then find ways to train whether it’s a run or hitting some balls before studying some more and going to bed late. My wife Haylee was brilliant because she handled everything to do with our son Micah, who was two when I started studying. There were one or two arguments when I couldn’t fulfil certain responsibilities, like changing nappies, but in a sense the lows turned into highs because making up after an argument actually brought us closer together.”

Bennett is grateful for what cricket has afforded him.

“In cricket you have to manage success and failure. You have to find a happy balance. Personally, it took me some time to get that right. I was speaking to a guy recently who asked me why I chose cricket over hockey. His point was that success is never guaranteed in cricket but I told him the beauty of cricket is that it’s like no other game because it teaches you things that you need in life. It teaches you patience, how to deal with difficult people both within and outside of your team; it teaches you about dealing with people from different backgrounds, especially in the case of a team like Border. It’s such an amazing team because you play with guys who are from rural areas. Some don’t even live in a house but they’re playing cricket. It’s been such an enriching experience watching guys in situations like that still have the fight in them to win no matter where they come from.”

There is no doubt that Bennett himself has put up a similar fight.

Text Info Strip

DEVELOPING ALL-ROUNDERS

February 17, 2016March 17, 2026

Cricketers’ on-field careers can last only so long, which is why SACA takes its role in developing well-rounded people seriously.

After the establishment of the Player Plus programme in 2008, it was imperative for SACA to find the right partner to help the programme achieve its goals – offering comprehensive personal development, education and support for their members.

Fortunately, a suitable life skills partner was not hard to come by. While the Sports Science Institute of South Africa (SSISA) has been at the forefront of fine-tuning the physical and mental requirements of elite athletes, they had not neglected the fact that performance is influenced by off the field factors too – be it personal, lifestyle or environmental.

As Gill Taylor, the Education, Training and Development Manager of SSISA, says, “Our extensive research shows that the most successful athletes or players globally are those who have a balanced approach, and who take ownership of what they’re doing in all aspects of their life. It’s not about the cricketer, but the person beyond that.”

Through SSISA’s Macsteel Maestros initiative, primarily a CSI programme which focusses on disadvantaged athletes, Taylor and her team of mentors around the country have built up a well of relevant content.

“We deal with three pillars in the life skills landscape. The first pillar is personal growth skills, things like communication, ethics, values, diversity… I sometimes call them the ‘touchy-feely’ aspects. Second is self-management and those are the practical issues in a player’s life like do they have a will and a tax number, or do they understand time-management. We also have a module that deals with taking responsibility, drinking responsibly and substance abuse – those types of things. Then finally, we look at professional skills which includes dealing with media, social networking and nowadays linked to that is a dual career programme.”

Often the main question when trying to engage professional sportsman, especially on topics not directly related to their sport, is ‘how?’.

“When SACA approached us saying they were looking at working more closely with the cricketers, one of the things emphasised was that it had to be a relationship-based programme. It’s no good just saying to a player that if they need a psychologist they should go and see one, they need somebody they can confide in, build a relationship with and with whom they are able to discuss any aspect of their life.”

This is why it was decided that each franchise would have a Personal Development Manager (PDM), who would not only deliver workshops to a team but also engage in one-on-one sessions. In group sessions, topics would also be to-the-point rather than broad.

“Topics range from self-confidence and respecting differences, to conflict-management and teamwork. Many of the team workshops lead from or are followed up by individual sessions. You need to know what the team’s goals are and then create a synergy, like if we’re doing a session on communication it has to be done in a team dynamic.”

Taylor says that their research and feedback has also delivered some interesting insight on the effectiveness of the life skills sessions they’ve conducted over the years.

“The research we did showed that when doing life skills sessions, there’s an increase in critical thinking, which is what creates behavioural changes. Encouragingly, coaches have given feedback that they feel their teams have played better after life skills sessions.”

Taylor explains why a healthy player-PDM relationship is important.

“Initially the players were wary of the PDMs, wondering whether they were there to feed back to their coaches or selectors. Nowadays it’s completely understood that they’re there to meet the players’ needs. There is now a healthy trust relationship between players and PDMs. Players are particularly receptive when they’re injured, have had a change in family situation or nearing retirement but a big focus area for us will also be the other transition period, when players first leave school and are met by things like contracts, free time and female attention.”

The identification of suitable, qualified PDMs is crucial to the success of the programme.

“We were fortunate that when SACA partnered with SSISA we already had a group of experienced PDMs at our disposal. By that time they had already been with us for about eight years so they understood what sportspeople go through. They do this secondary to their other jobs. We usually look at people who’ve been in the field and who are able to view things objectively.”

As they do with players, PDMs are also continuously given opportunities to enhance their skills and knowledge.

“They get training annually. All of them went through an accredited course on career assessment and advice; then every year we give them new modules to work from for life skills training and there is constant liaison between them and myself, and Ruan Schlebusch, the National SACA PDM Manager, with regards to the life skills programmes. What helps is that they bring to us the topical issues which players talk to them about and then we change things accordingly.”

Having worked with other sports bodies, Taylor is greatly encouraged by the benefits cricketers are receiving off the playing field.

“Many sports tend to only do one-off programmes whereas the Player Plus programme engages with players through the PDM-player relationship on an ongoing basis. There is regular evaluation of player needs and appropriate action to cater for it. It’s harder to get through to the players in cases where you engage once-off, so we’re really happy with the partnership we have with SACA. Hopefully other sports will follow their example…”

Text Info Strip

“My experience with the Player Plus programme has really been a good one” – JP Duminy

December 14, 2015March 17, 2026

Key Proteas player. SACA President. Husband. Father. JP Duminy has many elements to his life that he needs to balance. Having identified the need for personal development and plan for life after cricket, he recently added ‘student’ to that list too…

At only 31 and a key player in all three formats for the Proteas, JP Duminy could conceivably delay post-cricket thoughts for a few years still. Instead he has decided to lay the foundation for life after cricket during his playing career, to ensure a smooth transition.

“I guess I’m in a stage of my life now where I’m sort of looking at post cricket as well, and that is where the Player Plus programme has come into play and obviously SACA has been a huge influence in that,” says the current SACA President.

As it is, Duminy, being an elegant batsman who can also hit the ball big; a wicket-threatening off-spinner and agile fielder will have opportunities to extend his career post-Proteas if this was the route he wished to take. However, having that option hasn’t stopped him identifying what he wants to pursue in life when he does pack up his kit bag for the last time.

“My passion lies in dealing with people. I’m involved in one or two charities which is something I’d like to pursue further and I’ve also done a sports psychology course – working with sports psychologists has always intrigued me considering the sport I play. So I definitely want to help young cricketers come through from a mental side and it’s definitely something I will look into.”

Duminy didn’t identify these interests entirely on his own…

“I met up with my Personal Development Manager, Ruan Schlebusch, and we went through an array of questions in a questionnaire that identifies what your ambitions are or where your interests lie. That’s where I found that psychology might be something I want to go into… and me playing sport fits in well with me considering sports psychology. Hopefully I can make a great career out of it.”

Duminy took advantage of a SACA Player Plus bursary in 2014 by completing a course in Small Business Management through GetSmarter; the online nature of the course providing the necessary flexibility to fit into his schedule.

“We always have internet access wherever we’re touring so it was easy to access the information, the notes, the study material… I was privileged to be able to do something like that. Also, the great thing about it is that it’s not exam-based. It’s module-based so you have a week to do your module before handing it in – so it’s not studying per se but lots of research work. You don’t have to freak out about exams, which we don’t always get time to fit in in any case.”

Having last made a concerted effort to study in 2001, while completing Matric at Plumstead High School, Duminy is grateful for the support he has received while tackling dual career objectives so many years later.

“We have a huge amount of support from SACA and obviously our PDMs. They obviously identified how crucial it is for guys to be involved in a dual career – so not only looking after cricket but looking after life after cricket too. We’re privileged to have them as a support structure to put that in place for us.”

In the same vein, he is showing that if a national cricketer who spends up to eight months touring can manage to successfully engage in dual career activities, then all professional South African cricketers could be doing the same.

“I would definitely advise fellow cricketers to get involved in the Player Plus programme. My biggest regret is perhaps that I didn’t have these opportunities earlier in my career or be vigilant enough to study straight after school – it’s important for guys who are restricted in their career to have something else to fall back on. Also, I think it benefits you not only off the field but on the field as well. Maybe that’s where we as cricketers get it wrong as we put too much emphasis on cricket on its own and too much pressure on ourselves because we have to perform; but if we have something that takes our mind away from the game, it’s beneficial for us. I believe it’s important for young cricketers especially to get involved in the Player Plus programme – it’s been set up for us, it will benefit us and is being managed around our schedules which is obviously very important. My experience of the Player Plus programme has really been a good one.”

Text Info Strip

“WORK EXPERIENCE IS KEY” – SHEZI

December 7, 2015March 17, 2026

While a desire to return to the national fold is fuelling his sporting objectives, Cape Cobras bowler Mthokozisi Shezi is mindful of chasing personal development goals too

A cricketer’s off-season is usually spent resting their weary body, catching up with friends and family and setting goals for the season to come. That, or packing in experience by playing club or county cricket in the UK.

However, earlier this year, Cape Cobras left-arm seamer Mthokozisi Shezi gained experience of a different kind during a work placement at Momentum – sponsors of the domestic one-day cup.

“SACA approached me about it which I was very happy about and I was glad to accept. I wanted to learn how the corporate world works and see if I’m interested in that side of things,” Shezi says.

SACA Player Plus put Shezi in contact with Rory Gruss, an accredited financial advisor with programme partners Momentum, who put him at ease about what to expect.

“I’d been speaking to Rory so knew I was going to do three days [conveniently at the Momentum offices right next door to PPC Newlands] but I was still very nervous. My girlfriend dressed me up, as she said I needed to look formal.”

Initially, looking the part was all he had going for him.

“I remember on the Monday, the guys I spent time with had two cases to solve and watching three people sit together trying to do so was impressive but I must admit for the first 30 minutes I didn’t know what was going on because they were speaking in ‘work code’. That’s also when I realised how important it is to have real work experience and not just a diploma or a degree.”

As it is, the Pietermaritzburg-born 28-year-old already has the former and is currently working towards the latter.

“When I was still playing for the Dolphins, I completed a three-year diploma in sports management at Varsity College in Durban [after applying for and receiving a SACA Player Plus bursary]. When I finished that I said to myself let me do something corporate. After realising how much I like people and them being taken care of, my research led me to human resources – I’m studying that through Mancosa.”

Back to the work experience, what had Shezi learnt by the end of his three days?

“I was there to absorb… mostly by learning through listening but I also asked basic questions related to savings and shares for example. However, I’m really happy to know my finances are safe, because I’ve seen first hand how much they care. As a result, I’ve upped my investment because I now know where, how and when is being used.”

Buoyed by this year’s work experience, Shezi is already looking for an opportunity to do the same at the end of this season.

“I’m in the second year of my three-year HR degree. I’ll try for honours too, but I will be consulting Brad Player, my SACA Personal Development Manager, because next pre-season I want to do work experience in the HR field too. Instead of going to England I want to invest in doing work experience – I want to learn as much as possible and know that I can confidently walk into a job one day.”

Text Info Strip

A TRANSITION WELL-MANAGED

December 7, 2015March 17, 2026

A sudden end to your playing career doesn’t mean an abrupt end to your SACA Player Plus access, as Craig Thyssen happily discovered

One Saturday, erstwhile Warriors all-rounder Craig Thyssen was scoring 33 for Walsall CC in an English club match. The next Saturday his 10-year-long career was over…

“I didn’t know it would be my last match,” he says, recalling what followed that fateful match on 21 July 2013.

“On the Monday morning I woke up, had breakfast and went to the gym like a normal day. Afterwards, while I was lying on the couch watching TV I just started having headaches and stuff. I remember there was a clock on the wall, it couldn’t have been more than four metres away but I couldn’t see the time on it… it was so blurry. When I got up my head was sore so I thought it was just a migraine.”

Only it wasn’t… after a week of ‘tunnel vision headaches’, a teammate’s brother advised a brain scan. The result? “They found strokes on the brain.”

“A few weeks earlier I’d hurt my knee and considered flying home but when I told them that at the hospital they said I might have died on the flight… they found a blood clot on my heart too and it would have exploded at altitude! A higher power was looking out for me.”

Following treatment Thyssen did return home, but the remaining blank spot in his left eye ended, at 29, a career that had started as a prodigious schoolboy at Grey High in Port Elizabeth.

As it turns out, he now nurtures talented schoolboys, as Paarl Gym’s first team coach.

“I was lucky, when this happened to me I still had a season – 2013/14 – left on my Warriors contract, so I could still look at what I wanted to do. Melonie Gobel [SACA’s Eastern Cape-based Personal Development Manager] was a massive help in me identifying that I should to go into coaching.”

“With Craig, as with all the players we work with, we really looked holistically after the player and to make sure that they’re ‘okay’,” says Gobel. “Usually we’ll start from a financial perspective by identifying their short-term and long-term goals. We also look at life preparation work, like getting a will in order and other life skills they might identify in one-on-one workshops. More specific to Craig, he now didn’t have a job, so we gave him a CV template to do his own and then fine-tuned it with him. Then we as SACA heard of the coaching job at Paarl Gym and endorsed and motivated for him – he got the job ahead of a number of other candidates.”

To round off their transition support, SACA Player Plus also motivated for Thyssen – and current national bowling coach Charl Langeveldt – to do the CSA Level III coaching course in 2014/15 .

“There was obviously limited space, but he did superbly and got great marks. It shows what a person can do, given the opportunity,” Gobel concludes.

Buoyed by the support, Thyssen has made a successful start to his new career.

“When I arrived in January 2014, the first team was ranked in the 50s I think – remember it’s a rugby school – but we ended the year ranked 10th so I think we’ve done well.”

He has also been unafraid to go straight to the top for some advice…

“[Proteas coach] Russell Domingo was my coach from Under-15 to academy level, and brought me back to the Warriors after two years playing for Free State. He has always been willing to answer any questions I have.”

Besides that, Thyssen can count on first hand experience – three years of SA Schools [2000-02] alongside the likes of AB de Villiers and competing against Brendon McCullum and Alistair Cook on SA Under-19 tours – to nurture the schoolboys under his watch.

“They are always asking me questions about that and my career. The one thing I always tell them is that talent can only take you so far, but you have to work hard if you want to turn professional… and that your career can end when you least expect it.”