Shangase, Reddy eager to share learnings from Women’s national camp

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Nondumiso Shangase and Verunissa Reddy are looking forward to taking what they learned back to their respective provincial teams following the recently concluded Cricket South Africa (CSA) National Women’s camp at the Powerade Centre of Excellence in Pretoria.



The pair were a part of a 21-player squad, including nationally contracted players such as Lizelle Lee, Raisibe Ntozakhe and Shabnim Ismail, which gathered for a gruelling week of training.



The skills-based sessions, overseen by head coach, Hilton Moreeng, the Proteas women’s coaching staff as well as Victor Mpitsang, Andrew Puttick and Kruger van Wyk as respective bowling, batting and fielding consultants, were aimed at checking on the progress of the wider group of players as well as the budding cricketers coming through the development pipeline.



KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Women’s all-rounder and captain, Shangase and Easterns wicket-keeper, Reddy are hoping to share some of the key learnings they picked up, with their teammates ahead of the upcoming CSA Women’s National Week, taking place in Bloemfontein between 25-29 March.



“Soon, we are going to Bloemfontein for the CSA Women’s Week,” Shangase commented. “I have been watching the players here, bowling to them and batting against them. So, when I go back home, I will let my teammates know about what I have learned here and what I saw from the other players.



Reddy added to that, describing her time in the camp; “It was overwhelming, for starters. I was just there to learn and soak up as much as I can, so I can take it back to my province and I teach the girls there. I am not only looking at it for myself but also for my team. To grow women’s cricket as well, because I know how much we need to up the standard.



“I am really grateful for the opportunity and I am excited to come back show what I have,” she continued.



Reddy and Shangase, who are newcomers to the national camp, got the opportunity to pick the brains of cricket people who have been there before. Something that both players agree was crucial to their stint at the camp.



Shangase, who started playing cricket in 2013 at the age of 17, admitted that engaging with the seasoned coaches helped her immensely in pinpointing areas of improvement in her game and she cannot wait for the next camp. Reddy admits she flooded the coaches with numerous questions, ensuring that she learnt plenty in the short space of time.



“I feel like I didn’t have enough time to ask them all the questions,” she joked. “Questions I asked got answered and in a space of four days, I learnt a lot. My hard drive is full like coach (Moreeng) says and now it is time to unpack it and work with what I have taken in. I am really privileged. It was nice to see the level that I must be at, and I don’t think I am far off.”



The presence of current national players at the camp provided both coaching staff and the rising talents like Shangase and Reddy a barometer of the standards that are expected in the senior national team. With the intensity in all aspects of training, conditioning at net sessions elevated at the national level compared to provincial cricket, the duo was inspired by the national team and how they went about their work and how they treated one another.



“I knew they were always maybe two levels above, but to see how they go about their work, how hard they train and how intense the training is was mindblowing. I didn’t feel left behind, I didn’t switch off for a minute because I was so enticed by everything I was learning and by the work I was doing,” Reddy explained.



Shangase echoed her fellow camp attendee’s sentiments, adding; “I enjoyed it a lot, seeing a lot of experienced players. They were really supportive, no judging of each other or saying negative things. They were really good to me and I’ve liked my time there,” she concluded.



 



CSA National Women’s Camp squad:



Lizelle Lee (North West), Robyn Searle (Gauteng), Yolani Fourie (Gauteng), Nadine de Klerk (Northerns), Moseline Daniels (Border), Zintle Mali (Border), Nonkululeko Thabete (Gauteng), Shabnim Ismail (Gauteng), Trisha Chetty (Gauteng), Tumi Sekhukhune (North West), Raisibe Ntozakhe (Gauteng), Masabata Klaas (North West), Ayabonga Khaka (Gauteng), Andrie Steyn (Western Province), Laura Wolvaardt (Western Province), Tazmin Brits (North West), Sune Luus (Northerns), Mignon du Preez (Northerns), Sinalo Jafta (North West), Nondumiso Shangase (KZN Coastal), Verunissa Reddy (Easterns)
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