Proteas seam bowler Nqobani Mokoena.
Image: AFP
South Africa’s factory of fast bowling talent has delivered yet another promising young star in teenager Nqobani Mokoena.
The 19-year-old, who hails from KwaMashu in KwaZulu-Natal, is enjoying a meteoric rise in South African cricket, capped by a dream Proteas debut against New Zealand on Sunday.
Mokoena claimed 3/25 with his first wicket being Black Caps allrounder Jimmy Neesham.
The youngster had earlier promised to dedicate his first wicket to his mother Princess.
He was raised by his single mother, Princess, and assisted by his late grandfather.
Mokoena attended primary school in Phoenix where he first came into contact with cricket.
“I was 10 years old when I first started playing, just saw some of my friends playing and went to join them at training,” Mokoena said.
He showed immediate promise though and was spotted by Khalipha Cele, a former cricketer, who would play a significant role in young Mokoena’s life.
It was from there where Mokoena earned a full sports scholarship to the prestigious Northwood School - the alumni of illustrious Proteas duo Shaun Pollock and Keshav Maharaj.
It was a full circle moment when Mokoena made his Proteas T20I debut under Maharaj’s captaincy, who was also playing his 50th T20I.
Mokoena had the benefit of playing under the tutelage of former Proteas fast bowler Nantie Hayward at Northwood.
“I think for his age," Hayward said. "He was just a little bit faster than the normal kids. We always knew that Mokoena got something special with him and he can bat as well as an all-rounder.
“He was a raw, quiet kind of person. He doesn't really say a lot. He would just sit and listen. But as he got used to us, the school environment and the coaches, he started opening up and just became the Mokoena we all know.”
Mokoena would move through the KwaZulu-Natal youth team ranks before graduating with selection to the SA U19 team.
He impressed at this level too, claiming a five-wicket haul against England U19s on the first day of the “Test” in Stellenbosch.
Mokoena was now on the Betway SA20 scouts radar and benefited from the U23 selection criteria - each team is required to have two U23s in their squad - and was picked up by the Paarl Royals.
The Royals have a tradition of investing in young players with Mokoena’s former SA U19 teammates Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Kwena Maphaka having previously been picked up.
The youngster grabbed the opportunity with both hands, impressing both with his pace that clocked over 140km/h and his variations.
These skills earned Mokoena 13 wickets in his maiden SA20 season as he finished fifth on the overall bowling charts.
He particularly enjoyed dismissing Proteas great Quinton de Kock.
This exposure set Mokoena perfectly for his dream Proteas T20I debut against New Zealand on Sunday with the young fast bowler claiming figures of 3/25.
FAST FACTS
Name: Nqobani Mokoena
Date of Birth: May 5, 2006
Age: 19
Birthplace: KwaMashu, 12km from Durban in KwaZulu-Natal
School: Northwood Boys High School
Teams: SA U-19, Dolphins, Paarl Royals, Proteas