by Zizipho Mdebuka (1st XI Cricket Captain)
The University of the Western Cape Cricket Club first introduced a ladies cricket team in 2006 by Esmund van Wyk. The team then consisted of mostly students that have never played cricket before or had some experience here and there. The main purpose in the beginning was about learning and having fun out on the field.
With the appointment of Nuraan Pipers as the UWC Ladies coach in 2013 as a player-coach, the team had to show our competitiveness on and off the field. We were not as fortunate as the men’s teams who had the resources but persevered due to commitment and execution, when it mattered most. The UWC Ladies showed their competitiveness in the Ladies Premier League since the 2015/2016 season and the team have been in almost every final since the 2015/2016 season and walked away with three (3) trophies.
I officially joined UWC CC from Mitchell’s Plain in the 2017/2018 season. Nuraan filled me in with regards to where ladies cricket has come from since Esmund’s introduction in 2006, and a lot has changed. Not only are lunches provided to us at all our games, but we are also now recognized as a High-Performance squad due to our achievements in the Ladies Premier League. Sports Skills for Life Skills has also made it possible for ladies to receive full bursaries should they meet the set criteria of the programme. Simple things like having our own designated scorer but also our own designated Biokineticist are tokens of how serious the programme takes the Women's game at UWC. Since taking over the captaincy in 2018/2019 at UWC CC, the ladies fought in both finals in the 2018/2019 season.
Unfortunately, we could not cross the line in the 50 over final and the outbreak of Covid-19 did not allow us to compete in a home final at Six Gun Grill Newlands in the 20 over competition.
Our commitment to the game shows, as we now have a few representatives in the international and provincial set ups. Young players such as Nosipho Vezi, Yandiswa Mangele, Sinelethu Yaso and Kelsey Adams who recently represented the Western Province Women’s Team. Andrie Steyn and young Leah Jones were recently called up by the South Africa A Women’s Team. Not forgetting our recruit from Zimbabwe, Michelle Mutongawafa. Michelle recently came back to Cape Town after the Pakistan cancelled their tour to Zimbabwe. She was selected in the Zimbabwean Women’s Squad and she continues to work hard both on and off the field.
Yours in cricket,
Zizipho
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