Over-50s race to become kings of Africa

The Over-50s Africa Cup cricket tournament is set to begin this Sunday, welcoming veteran teams from Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and South Africa A in an exciting 45-over competition.

Hosted in Windhoek at the HP Oval and Wanderers, matches will commence daily at 10:00, promising action-packed cricket as seasoned athletes showcase their enduring talent and love for the game.

Many players have returned to the international stage after distinguished careers, even at professional and international level, bringing with them the skill and sportsmanship for which they’ve become known.

Neighbours Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe have already secured spots in the upcoming Over-50s World Cup in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in February 2025.

The African tournament therefore serves as a valuable opportunity to hone their tactics in a competitive setting and to solidify team synergy ahead of the global event.

The competition follows a round-robin format, with the top teams progressing to the final stages.

Hosts Namibia will open their campaign against favourites South Africa at Wanderers field on Sunday morning, while the other two teams meet at the Namibia HP Oval.

Fans can expect high-calibre performances as the teams compete for the Africa Cup title and aim to gain momentum for the World Cup.

Among Namibia’s hopefuls, seasoned all-rounder Ken Joseph shared his determination, noting that their months of training and strong line-up give them confidence. “We have a solid bowling unit, and our top six batters have shown consistency in recent games,” Joseph said, recalling his player-of-the-match performance against Pakistan in the last Over-50s World Cup.

Batsman Piers L’Estrange, Namibia’s top run-scorer at the previous World Cup in South Africa, anticipates that South Africa will bring a spin-focused bowling attack to prepare for the World Cup conditions in Sri Lanka.

“This time, they’re likely to play more spinners. Tyron Henderson, a former IPL player, and Zimbabwe’s Murray Goodwin, who still competes in A-grade cricket in Australia, will add to the challenge,” he observed.

Namibian players feel optimistic, bolstered by home-ground advantage and familiarity with the pitches.

L’Estrange also expressed appreciation for the extensive coverage Sport Wrap is set to provide. “The live broadcast setup here in Namibia will be far superior to what we had at the World Cup in South Africa, enhancing the experience for players and fans alike.”



SOUTH AFRICA A

Russell Bennett (captain), Charles Webber (vice-captain), Faldie Abderouf, Andrew Emslie, Kaiser Gantsho, Giemie Jappie, Robin Knott, Mike Ritchie, Shawn Schaper, Wiaan Smit, Andre Steyn, Riaan van de Rheede, Christo Weiss, Daan Wessels, Dale Hermanson.



NAMIBIA

Dawie Hartzenberg (captain)

Ken Joseph

Ferdie Coetzee

Julian Fennessy

Willem Genis

Isedor Titus

Alex Horn

Dirkie Beukes

Leon Flemming

David Coetzee (Lam)

Dian Coetzee

Louis Nortjé

Petrie Theron

Deon Gouws

Piers L’Estrange

Willie van Zyl

Willem Janse van Rensburg



ZIMBABWE

Darrell Goodwin (captain), Michael van Staden, Andrew Walton, Gavin Lindsay, Darshan Vaghmaria, John Rennie, Gavin Parker, James Whyte, Murray Goodwin, Marc Heymans, Tim Bartlett, Andre le Roux, Wayne James, Mark Warhurst.



SOUTH AFRICA

Mario Solomons (captain, Western Province), Craig Lyons (vice-captain, Lions), Deon Kruis (Eastern Province), Lefty Ngece (Border), Munier Holliday (Western Province), Russell Krug (Border), Yahya Jiwa (Titans), Con Purchase (Titans), Wayne Tharratt (Western Province), Dave Bakker (Boland), Mohammed Ejaz (Titans), Mohammad Teladia (Eastern Province), Gideon Joubert (Titans), Goolam Taliep (Western Province).



For those unable to attend, every game will be broadcast live on NTV, accessible via DStv (channel 285) and GOtv (channel 25), as well as online at https://oneuptwo.com.

This is a chance for cricket fans everywhere to witness these masters of the game and support their journey towards the World Cup.