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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…

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Liam Alder Named Overall SACA MVP for Domestic Division 2

Following the completion of all domestic fixtures, Liam Alder of the Garden Route Badgers finished at the top of the…

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TWELVE YEARS OF RESEARCH-BASED PLAYER SERVICE

Over the past 12 years, the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) has cemented its dedication to evidence-based practice through a…

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THE ALL-ROUNDER

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.”

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‘EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON’

When Travis Muller’s season ended after one match, he didn’t immediately realise the benefits that could arise from enforced time off…

Western Province and Cape Cobras pace bowler Travis Muller was looking forward to a breakthrough season, his second as a contracted player. Now the 23-year-old is spending it doing rehab for a stress fracture in his lower back.
Muller’s injury has brought a halt to his steady rise (and packed schedule) since he captained Wynberg Boys’ High School during his Matric year in 2011. In January 2012 he played Cubs Week and was selected for South Africa U19 in series against Zimbabwe and Pakistan before being drafted straight into the Western Province team for the remainder of the season. As it happened, that 2012 winter proved to be his last proper off-season.
Muller was a regular for the provincial amateur side in 2012/13 before going into a stint at Tavistock CC in England. He then had his most prolific season in 2013/14, cracking the Cape Cobras squad in the midst of playing 16 First Class matches. He then headed overseas again, this time to Horsham CC. Last season was almost as busy, spending time in both the provincial and franchise teams before earning selection to the National Academy for 2015 – which culminated in an Emerging Players tour of Sri Lanka last August.
“It was there that I first felt my back, though it’s probably been building for a while. When we returned I played a match in the Africa T20 Cup and haven’t played since… it hasn’t been fun. At the start we weren’t sure what the problem was – some doctors were saying one thing and others were saying another. Finally, in October, we got clarity from a surgeon and thankfully I didn’t need an operation.”
While Muller recognises that he was required to squeeze a lot of cricket into the past four years, he feels his enthusiasm didn’t help either.
“I wouldn’t say I’ve been a victim of my success; there are a number of things that could have played a part besides over-bowling. Apart from games and training I’ve always done lots of outside training too, so I haven’t always given myself enough time to rest.”
As he really loves being involved in the action, Muller initially found it ‘mentally and physically tough’ to be standing around at the nets with his to-do list reduced to rest and rehab. While he could take charge of the physical side of his rehab – which included swimming, cycling and light core work – the mental side needed external help.
“Brad Player [SACA Player Development Manager based in the Western Cape] has been great. He had a similar injury during his playing days so it’s been good to get his insight. He also sent me to Clinton Gahwiler, a psychologist at the Sports Science Institute, for further support. Brad told me to use this time for myself by concentrating on my future and my health, and then cricket will come after. He also suggested that I consider studying while I’m injured. We did aptitude tests which showed I’m strongly interested in a career in sport, so initially we considered Sports Management.”
As it turned out, they settled on another option that suits Muller even better… in surroundings he’s familiar with.
“I’ve always been interested in studying. I wanted to straight after school, but then I broke into SA U19s and it’s just been cricket since. My other passion is fitness, and we found a two-year diploma in sports conditioning at the Exercise Teachers Academy (ETA) College that will also help me manage my workload when I get back on the field.”
Conveniently, ETA College Cape Town is based at the Western Province Cricket Club – where you will find Muller’s name on the Honours board – and they’ve been flexible about fitting his rehab into his daily schedule there.
“ETA is a nice place to study. The hours aren’t long and it’s been easy to relate to the content. There’s usually an hour when the other members of the class perform physical tasks that I’m not allowed to do yet and that’s when I do my rehab. It’s very convenient.”
Another positive to Muller’s current situation is the quality time he’s been able to spend with his friends and parents.
“It’s actually been good to have weekends and be able to go out and see my friends. A couple of my mates are studying, so it’s been nice to chat to them about what their experiences are like. That said, I’ve been missing cricket and would rather be in bed early on a weekend night looking forward to a match the next day.”
At the time of writing Muller was awaiting the programme for his next phase of rehab, but with the cricket season ending shortly he realises his next match will only come next season.
“I was speaking to [Western Province] coach Faiek Davids recently and he was saying that when pre-season starts I must come in and do my rehab there, with my teammates. He told me not to rush back. It’s great that they’re being so understanding and accommodating.”
While Muller has chalked this season down to one where ‘everything happens for a reason’, with breakthroughs coming in other facets of his life, his on-field goals remain undiminished.
“My long-term goals are to have the longest cricket career I can possibly have, so for now I’ll focus on getting fit and healed. Then I want to get back in the Western Province amateur team, then the Cobras, and finally, if I can, the Proteas.”

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THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED

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.

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TRADING PLACES

At 33, Warriors bowler Lundi Mbane has worked long and hard at his trade, but has also been preparing for his next one…

Even before Lundi Mbane began his professional cricket career with Border in 2004, he had an introduction to what his long-term career might entail – thanks to his father…

“At an early age my father taught me how to weld, that’s when I started becoming interested in plumbing,” the Mdantsane-born medium-pacer recalls.

However, circumstances meant that Mbane had to wait until 2013 – his 30th year – to get any formal training in that trade.

“I was never good at school and I didn’t have money to go and study straight after it, so it was only in 2013 when I applied for a bursary through the SACA Player Plus programme that I could study plumbing. I did a 45-day course in Mdantsane [through Buffalo City Public FET College at John Knox Bokwe Campus] during the off-season.”

Despite his stated lack of prowess at school and absence of tertiary education, Mbane surprised himself by how well he coped with the course.

“It was quite easy, I think it was because it was something I was used to doing, but I also learnt a lot. It was very helpful because there was some other things about plumbing that I didn’t know from watching my father.”

Enriched by the experience, Mbane enrolled for another course during the 2014 off-season. This time in carpentry.

“My interest in carpentry is from a friend of mine in England [who he met while playing for Shaw CC during the 2012 off-season]. He was doing it and I found it very interesting so I thought when I have time I will try it. The course I did in 2014 was also meant to be 45 days but I finished it in 30 days, I finished my modules quickly.”

It all means that as the 33-year-old approaches the end of his professional playing career, he is in a favourable position to transition into his working life after cricket and be able to look after his fiance and their two children – a nine-year-old daughter and two-year-old son.

In that regard, Mbane encourages all players to use the benefits of the SACA Player Plus programme for life beyond the boundary.

“I would like to see even more players at the Warriors studying, and I’ve been asking them what they are going to do after cricket. I’m trying to set an example.”

Mbane credits Melonie Gobel, SACA’s Eastern Cape-based Personal Development Manager, with helping him on the path to setting an example.

“Over the years I’ve spoken to her a lot and she has really helped me prepare for life after cricket is finished,” he says.

For her part, Gobel can’t speak highly enough of Mbane.

“Lundi comes from very humble beginnings, but he has literally run with the training courses he has done. He has also become involved in coaching in his community and is an incredible role model to the children in Mdantsane.”

On a more practical level, Gobel talks about the support she has provided him with.

“With Lundi specifically we had to look at his financial health, looking at drawing up a will because he has a family and helping him with the practicalities of buying a house – which he has done. Then the trade programme and skills training has set him up incredibly well.”

In turn, Mbane is determined to continue engaging with Gobel around his next career.

“I’ve told her that I want to get some work experience, even if I don’t get paid initially. She has promised that when I’m done with my career she will speak to companies.”

Ultimately Mbane wants to open up his own plumbing business, so with that in mind intends to round off his learning.

“I intend to continue studying because I want to get to a diploma, and then look at starting up my own plumbing company.”

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REAPING THE BENEFITS

Proteas Women all-rounder Sune Luus discovered that SACA Player Plus access played a big part in 2015 being one of the best years of her life

Thanks to her leg-spinning and game-closing batting, Sune Luus has been playing for the Proteas Women since she was a 16-year-old in high school. Her fortune is that in the intervening four years, she’s witnessed women’s cricket gain prominence, sponsors, fans and access to opportunities – the SACA Player Plus programme being one – like never before.

It helped her out of a quandary when she finished school in 2014…

“After matriculating I was basically in two minds. I was thinking of studying to be a teacher but I was worried that with all the touring and trying to go to class I’d struggle. Then we had a team gathering at the HPC in Pretoria with SACA where it was mentioned I could do a diploma geared towards elite athletes at University of Pretoria. It’s a year course but you can do it over two years which covers first year Sport Science and first year Education,” Luus says.

She immediately put up her hand, and found the subsequent process very easy.

“Applying for a bursary was really easy,” she recalls. “Our PDM Ruan Schlebusch gave me the application form, I filled it in, and he said he would take care of the rest… which he did. He was really helpful, there were no hassles.”

On top of that Luus, who turned 20 on January 5, found her first year in university rewarding, having spent very little time actually at Die Hoerskool Menlopark in her Matric year.

“I think I spent about three months at school in Matric because of how busy we were [thanks to tours to Qatar, Bangladesh and England] so last year was just so amazing being able to walk around campus, meet new people and have long training sessions in the afternoon. Initially, going to university was quite a scary idea, especially when I saw I’d have to wake up early for some 7:30 classes but it was a great journey… one of the best year’ of my life.”

Luus’ time-management will be tested this year though. After only one tour in 2015, the Proteas host England, West Indies, Bangladesh and New Zealand with the World Twenty20 in India in the middle.

“I do quite well on my own, but everybody needs support. My two loving parents are very supportive as is my brother who’s doing an honours in agriculture and knows what I’ll go through. Also, I grew up in a hardworking home, and apart from them my cricket teammates and coaches support me as well while my friends are always sending me SMS’ encouraging me.”

What about the university, will they be accommodating?

“Definitely, the course is geared towards elite athletes so lecturers help us a lot by sending our work via email and then we can send it back. I will also take my work with me wherever I travel.”

Having gone for the two-year option, and all things being well, Luus will end this year with a Higher Certificate in Sports Science [HCert (Sports Science)] with the option of choosing a more focussed degree in the Faculty of Humanities or Education. However, considering Momentum’s sponsorship of Cricket South Africa in 2013 allowed the women’s team to become contracted players, Luus could surely have just focused on cricket for now?

“We don’t get the same kind of money the Proteas men get so we can’t just play cricket, we have to get something behind our names. Also, we have to remember that if we get a long-term injury the contract won’t completely take care of you and somewhere along the line you’re going to have to stop whether you want to have children or age catches up. That said, it’s been awesome getting a contract and does make a difference. For example, after school my dad cut off my phone bill so I’ve been paying that and having money in the bank to pay for other expenses has been really helpful. Getting the bursary from SACA really helped too, because I might not be studying if it wasn’t for them.”

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LAYING A PLATFORM

Anybody that has tried to balance their job with studies knows the difficulties involved. No surprise then that it was a long layoff from his work that helped Cape Cobras all-rounder Shaheen Khan make a considerable dent in his studies.

From a cricket perspective, Shaheen Khan had a tough 2015. The 28-year-old started it as an all-rounder in the Cape Cobras lineup, but ended it as a batsman only in the Western Province provincial side. A long-term injury saw to that…

“I injured my back in January and was out for almost 10 months. It was frustrating, but in the end it allowed me to bite off a lot of the studies. Focusing on my studies helped to take my mind off cricket and set a foundation for my future.”

After matriculating from Cravenby Secondary in 2005, Khan was actually a student while playing Cape club cricket before his ‘breakthrough’ season when he moved to play for Gauteng in 2012.

“I started studying before I was a semi-professional or had a contract with the Cobras. I always knew I needed something to fall back on so I could make a life for myself if cricket didn’t work out. So many players think of playing until they’re 35 but you have to ask yourself what you’ve done to make your 36th year successful…”

In order to do so, he started a Business Management degree through Unisa in 2009, but admits that it’s been challenge – not least as his cricket fortunes improved.

“I started it, then stopped in 2012 [a year when he also played club cricket in England for Cleator CC]. Since then it’s been difficult while I’ve been at the Cobras.”

Structure and logistics have often been the challenges.

“I realised that you have to do the bulk of year’s work in the first half of the year, because once the season starts it’s difficult to fit it in when there’s so much training, travelling and playing. There have been away trips where I’ve begged the captain to give me his single room so I can study, or tried to convince the management of a hotel to open the Wifi. However, the coaches at the Cobras have been very lenient and I’ve had other perks like avoiding bus trips and getting to fly instead when I’ve written an exam on the day that the guys travel.”

One of the benefits of SACA Player Plus Khan has made use of since signing for the Cape Cobras is applying for and receiving a bursary for his studies. Another is SACA sourcing and paying for a resource – in his case a tutor for Financial Accounting – to assist players with legitimate problematic modules. By and large, though, he’s more comfortable tackling his studying on his own.

“During my injury last year, I spent a lot of time at home in my room. Before my mid-year exams I spent nine days holed up in there studying and I got eight distinctions. It’s proof what I could achieve when I had that much time.”

That being said, when he wanted to play his part in his family business by adding a further string to his bow during his 2015 injury rehabilitation, SACA was his first point of contact.

“The story behind it is that I needed to up my computer literacy. I’d started up a construction business [named FIRZ Projects] with my father and brother but I only had the basic skills. While they are more hands-on my cricket meant I wasn’t; so I thought it would help I could I do some of the admin things that doesn’t require my active involvement. I approached my SACA Personal Development Manager [Brad Player] for guidance and we decided that I should apply for another Player Plus bursary for online courses from MasterGrade IT.”

As a result, Khan is registered for four Microsoft courses, namely Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Excel.

“You’re allowed to register for a year before you have to complete the courses, which entail watching videos and then writing tests. I started in late August-early September and have completed Outlook and Excel. I’m starting my third year Unisa subjects this year so before it gets going I want to complete the other two too.”

While his studies are on the right track, a return to full capacity is also in the offing for the rest of Khan’s season.

“I started bowling in the nets during December and didn’t have any reaction so I hope to be bowling in matches by the end of January. If I can contribute as a batsman and a bowler, it will hopefully help me get back into the Cobras team again.”

Perhaps it’s true when they say ‘healthy mind, healthy body’…

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

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.”

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“WORK EXPERIENCE IS KEY” – SHEZI

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.”

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A TRANSITION WELL-MANAGED

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.”

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