SA20 League: Meet the rookie – Andile Simelane

Everyone remembers the stunning catch at slip for the SA U19 team at the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup in the West Indies that catapulted Andile Simelane into the imagination of the South African cricket public, but the journey began many years before in KwaMashu – a town 12km north of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal.

KwaMashu is, of course, renowned for its lively performing arts scene that gave birth to legendary South African actors such as Henry Cele, who gained worldwide fame starring in the lead role in the 1980s television series Shaka Zulu, and Sarafina star Leleti Khumalo.

But it was not the bright lights of the stage and movie sets that caught Simelane’s attention. The now 21-year-old hoped to seek fame and fortune out on the sports field.

And it started in the most peculiar fashion at Mpumelelo Primary School in KwaMashu.

“I started playing cricket when I was little. At the time it was called KFC Mini-Cricket,” said the Sunrisers Eastern Cape Rookie all-rounder.

“I actually didn’t know I had the talent to play mini-cricket. My friend told me to come and play, and I said I wasn’t keen, but then he said there’ll be free KFC, and then I was like ‘No, I have to go now because we’re getting free food. Everyone likes free food.’

“I remember going to John Dube [Dr JL Dube], it’s a high school close to where I lived. From there, they saw I had a talent to play cricket.

“I went to the U11 trials, and I didn’t make it, but then the following year, I made U13. That’s where everything changed for me.”

It was at this stage that young Simelane’s life would take a dramatic turn. Still just a teenager, Simelane would have to leave everything that he held dear in terms of his family and friends behind in his hometown of KwaMashu and pack his bags for the opportunity to attend the prestigious Maritzburg College 85km away in the leafy hills of KwaZulu-Natal.

“I got a scholarship in Grade 6 to attend Maritzburg College,” Simelane said. “Going to Maritzburg College, becoming a boarder, staying away from home, missing my friends, was not easy for me.”

But Simelane slowly adapted to his new surroundings and started to excel out on the same cricket pitches that was once graced by eminent Maritzburg Old Boys such as Paarl Royals captain David Miller and former England skipper and Betway SA20 commentator Kevin Pietersen.

Simelane also began to appreciate his experience at Maritzburg College for instilling in him the belief that he could someday join his childhood heroes such as Paarl Royals all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo and Proteas batter Khaya Zondo at Kingsmead one day.

“At College, I developed the understanding that I could actually become a professional. That’s where my mind changed and I fell in love with the sport,” Simelane said.

“I made KwaZulu-Natal U15s. That’s where coaches saw me, got invited to camps, I think it was called TAP [Talent Acceleration Programme] camps.

“That’s where I managed to get more information about cricket. I was still young, and thought it was just a sport that I would play, and after high school I would do something else.

“Growing up I think what inspired me was watching Andile Phehlukwayo, Khaya Zondo, because they are also from Durban.

“I was a kid, growing up, going to watch the Dolphins at Kingsmead, watching them play, that’s where I told myself I also want to be part of Dolphins cricket.

“That’s when I thought I could have a career,” he added.

After his exploits with the SA U19 team in the Caribbean two years ago, Simelane has since developed into a regular for his local provincial team, the KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins.

But it was last year where the youngster’s career skyrocketed with a call-up to the Sunrisers Eastern Cape squad as their Rookie pick.

Although Simelane was not afforded an opportunity to showcase his skills for the double Betway SA20 champions, the opportunity to share a dressingroom with with Proteas Test and ODI captain Temba Bavuma alongside many other internationals was a dream come true for the promising all-rounder.

Equally, to develop his skills with a Proteas legend such as Dale Steyn, the SEC bowling coach, will only be beneficial to Simelane as he progresses through the ranks.

“It was something special for me to get a chance, an opportunity to work with the best coaches and overseas players. I was very exciting to be part of the defending champions.

“I worked with Dale; he’s added a few things to my bowling. I think those things have helped me a lot. Growing up I wanted to be part of the best teams in the world. It’s something I will never forget,” he said.