Proteas Women head coach Mandla Mashimbyi is overseeing his first national training camp in Tshwane this week through to Friday with an experienced squad convening at the CSA Centre of Excellence on Monday afternoon following their domestic matches over the weekend.
Barring any weather interruptions in the capital city, the head coach and his staff are looking to implement their coaching philosophies and approach, while putting the players through their paces in intense fitness and skills sessions as the team kickstarts the road towards the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 in India later this year.
The 17-player group consists of One-Day International-capped players, with the exception of the uncapped former SA Under-19 Women all-rounder Miané Smit, who was also a travelling reserve during last year’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE.
World Sports Betting Western Province’s Delmi Tucker makes a return to the squad following a lengthy layoff due to a shoulder injury.
The quartet of Marizanne Kapp, Nadine de Klerk, Chloé Tryon and captain Laura Wolvaardt will miss the camp due to their involvement in the ongoing Women’s Premier League in India.
Outlining his aim for the training camp, Coach Mashimbyi commented: “What's going to be important for us is get them to understand their own abilities and where they can actually improve their abilities and also upskill. Hopefully, in the next four days when they get out of this camp, they've got a better understanding of what they bring to the table and what is it that they need to go back and work on in the next few months.
“This first camp for me was going to be important for them to understand my vision, where I would like them to be and what we want to achieve with what we have. The one question that I've asked the players was, “What does it mean to be a Protea?”. I think that will get them thinking and they will understand what are the needs instead of the wants and then they can really focus on the needs to make sure that they leave no stone unturned from a prep point of view, a training point of view and a skills development point of view as well.
“They need to be vulnerable enough to know where they're strong, to know where they're weak and then we can create the platform for them to improve in those aspects.”
Sharing his thoughts on the make-up of the squad selected for his first national camp, Mashimbyi highlighted the type of cricketer he is looking to work with during his tenure.
“I think the biggest thing for me is to try and get to know the players a little bit better. That's going to be key, engaging with them throughout the camp, trying to understand where their games are at and what they think about their own game and then hopefully during those conversations one or two comments could actually be the thing that activates them to a point where they feel, I need to beef up here, I need to beef up there, which for me is important.
“I'm looking for players that are always looking to be better versions of themselves. So hopefully by the end of the four days, the ladies will have gained a little bit more,” he concluded.
Proteas Women Training Camp Squad
Anneke Bosch (Fidelity Titans), Tazmin Brits (DP World Lions), Annerie Dercksen (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Mieke de Ridder (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Lara Goodall (World Sports Betting Western Province), Ayanda Hlubi (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Sinalo Jafta (DP World Lions), Ayabonga Khaka (DP World Lions), Masabata Klaas (Fidelity Titans), Suné Luus (Fidelity Titans), Eliz-Mari Marx (Fidelity Titans), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Tumi Sekhukhune (DP World Lions), Nondumiso Shangase (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Miané Smit (Recon Tactical Free State), Delmi Tucker (World Sports Betting Western Province), Faye Tunnicliffe (World Sports Betting Western Province).
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