ONE cricket player of the Free State who will want to make his mark at this year’s 66th Annual Khaya Majola Week in Port Elizabeth is Bokang Mosena of St. Andrew’s School in Bloemfontein.

This all-rounder was named the South African u.17 Player of the Year after his superb performances at the national u.17 week last year in Cape Town. He scored a half-century against KwaZulu-Natal and also grabbed four wickets for a mere 19 runs in Free State’s match against the Eastern Province.
This year’s Khaya Majola Week will be his first and he has set himself goals to achieve during the week.

“My first goal of the season was to make the Free State side. I’ll try to make the South African Colts team this year. I also want to be one of the players identified to play in next year’s tournament in which players from various provinces will participate,” said Bokang.

The best players from each province at the Khaya Majola Week will be identified and they will participate in a tournament early next year from which the national u.19 side will be chosen.

“I think my award sets a base from which I can work myself to the top, but I still have to perform to be selected in the representative teams.”
He went to the Yorkshire Cricket Academy earlier this year as part of the exchange programme between Saints and York¬shire.
Two players from the central region, Deon Kruis and Jacques Rudolph, play for Yorkshire’s senior side. Kruis also helps with the coaching at Saints.
Ian Heartley also attended the academy with Bokang.

The English fast bowler Matthew Hoggard also plays for Yorkshire and made his mark in Bloemfontein whilst playing for the Eagles.
“It was a wonderful experience and insight into cricket. We met the English cricket captain Michael Vaughan and spoke to him and we watched him play. I learned a lot about how people approach the game in England,” said Bokang.

Bokang’s brother, Lefa, plays for the Free State’s amateur team. He also played for the Yorkshire Cricket Academy while he was still at school.
Bokang is also a good rugby player. Like a true cricketer, he plays flyhalf for his school’s first team. He was selected to play for the Free State’s Arende rugby side, but had to withdraw to be able to attend the Yorkshire Cricket Academy.

Bokang's favourites:

Cricket player: Andrew Flintoff
Rugby player: Dan Carter
Music: R&B 
Movies: Action and drama
Quote: “Attitude determines altitude!”

Grey College will host the first OUTsurance Cricket Festival in Bloemfontein next year. The tournament will be held from 9 to 11 January with some of South Africa’s biggest cricketing schools attending. Grey College produced two Protea-captains, Hansie Cronjé and Kepler Wessels, since South Africa was re-admitted into the international arena in 1991.  

The Bloemfontein school also produced national players like Morné van Wyk, Boeta Dippenaar, Nicky Bojé and Victor Mpitsang. King Edward VII (KES) whom produced players like Ray Jennings, Neil McKenzie and current Protea-captain Graeme Smith will also attend the tournament.