With the SuperSport Park International Cricket Academy (SPICA) start date of 1 September getting closer, it’s full steam ahead for the academy organisers who held a launch event at SuperSport Park this afternoon.
The purpose of the event was to officially introduce SPICA and the academy subsidiary team, the Young Guns, while announcing the players that will be involved in SPICA & the Young Guns.
In attendance at the function at SuperSport Park’s President Suite were the players, their coaches and support staff; sponsors and strategic partners as well as members of the Titans Cricket Union Board and members of the media.
“I’m thrilled that we’ve managed to get this project off the ground after months of hard work behind the scenes and that we’ve got the opportunity to announce the players that will be taking part in SPICA & Young Guns.” Said the Academy Director, Pierre Joubert on Friday afternoon.
“It excites me the number of highly talented players who will be a part of the academy from 1 September, we also have a number of international players who have signed up which was one of our key objectives and I’m pleased with that.” Joubert continued.
2024 will be the first edition of the SuperSport Park International Cricket Academy and the interest in being a part of the initial intake far exceeded the academies capacity to admit all interested parties.
“We were overwhelmed with the amount of interest we received from people wanting to participate in the first edition which included interest from other parts of the world.” Explained Titans Cricket CEO Dr Jacques Faul.
“We made arrangements to fill all the available spaces for the first edition and are confident that the academy will grow from this point forward. The new academy and Young Guns team creates added capacity for corporate and strategic partners to get involved and as always we’re looking to fill the new sponsorship opportunities that are available.” Said Faul.
While the academies primary focus is to enhance the skills and develop the players involved, there will also be an academic aspect which focuses on short learning programs and a tourism feature to showcase the beauty that South Africa has to offer.
Strong and well-balanced teams have been assembled for the academy and Young Guns team which will get together from 30 August 2024 at SuperSport Park. Titans High Performance players including Steve Stolk, Merrick Brett, Lethabo Phahlamohlaka, Letsholo Selemela and Schalk Englebrecht will also form part of the academy and Young Guns.
The two teams will be joined by the Momentum Multiply Titans and will face each other in the Tri-Team Tournament taking place between 31st August and 8th September 2024.
Six matches will be played at SuperSport Park across nine days and will be live streamed. Behind the scenes footage will form part of a SuperSport TV program. Tournament squads will be announced closer to the time where the Titans are expected to have their big-name players taking part.
As the academy progresses there will be additional international players joining with the below being the initial confirmation of players taking part from the onset.
SuperSport Park International Cricket Academy (SPICA) Preliminary Squad: Aphiwe Yako, Keagan van Wyk, Khaif Patel, Conrad Mouton, Lhuan-Dre Pretorious, Maro Hartkopf, Michael van der Westhuizen, Marcus Bakker, Phillippe le Roux, Lethabo Phahlamohlaka, Wian Ruthven, Adam Cannata, Divan de Villiers, Ruben Janse van Vuuren, Ra’ees Salie, Modise Maloka, Steve Stolk, Suleman Bhamji, Sahil Patel, Merrick Brett, Letsholo Selemela, Schalk Englebrecht
Young Guns Preliminary Squad: Raeeq Daniels, Ntandoyenkosi Soni, Dayalan Boyce, Jaden Govender, Pranav Raichettie, Keagan Lion-Cachet, Christiaan du Toit, GJ Maree, Sam Ruwisi, Hernus Marais, Dylan Bester, Corne Prinsloo, David Teeger, Luthando Tsanwani, Ludwich Schuld.
