KZN Cricket pipeline shines at KZNCU Awards
- Cricket SA
- 2 minutes ago
- 6 min read
The KwaZulu-Natal Cricket Union held their 2024/2025 season awards at Sun Sibaya on Friday night, an evening that highlighted the strength of the Hollywoodbets Dolphins pipeline and shone the light on the achievements of all levels of cricket in the province.
The KZNCU Awards evening showcases the performances of players, administrators and volunteers throughout the previous season and there were several noteworthy awards handed out on the evening.
The KZNCU President’s award is always an important award given out every year and this year's recipient was Andre Ellapen from Southern Natal. Ellapen has been an instrumental figure in growing the game of cricket on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal and has been a shining light in creating tournaments and leagues for players throughout the year.
His contribution to cricket on the South Coast has filtered into the greater Dolphins pipeline and his efforts continue to be an example for other regions in KZN.
Another important award is the eThekwini Metro Cricket Union's President's Award. This year EMCU president Kugan Subrayen awarded this to Bronwyn Gounden from Chatsworth Sporting.
Gounden became the youngest person and first female, at the age of 23, to be the chairperson of the Chatsworth Sporting Cricket Club and she continued her involvement in cricket being the manager of the victorious KZN Under-16 Girls team that won their national week.
Gounden managed the team that was coached by the Dolphins Schools Coach of the Year Dheyanka Naidoo.
In what was one of the achievements of the season Amanzimtoti Cricket Club were crowned the Castle Premier League champions for the first time in many years after a stellar season.
For the president of the KZN Cricket Union Yunus Bobat, it's crucial that they celebrate the achievements of every level of cricket in the province.
"In order for us to strengthen our pipeline and give these players, administrators and coaches the drive to achieve more, it's vital that we acknowledge their achievements," Bobat said.
"We are incredibly proud of all the individuals, teams and clubs that won awards and we hope they continue their hard work into the new season."
The evening was also used to recognise all those players who have represented South Africa, and the Dolphins were well represented in the junior national teams.
Five players represented the SA Under-19 men's team, Seshnie Naidu was part of the SA Under-19 Women's World Cup team and five players were part of the various men's and women's SA Schools teams.
KZN Cricket also had six representatives in the SA Blind Cricket team as well as various veteran’s national representatives.
CEO of KZN Cricket Heinrich Strydom continues to be encouraged by the strength of the game of cricket in KwaZulu-Natal.
"To be able to recognise the achievements of all of our teams, clubs, players, administrators and volunteers from all over KZN is fantastic," Strydom said.
"The award winners come from every spectrum of society in KZN and we are proud to be able to use cricket to bring them all together.
"We're also encouraged by the efforts of all of our winners, and we hope that next season we're celebrating even more successes."
KZNCU Awards Winners
National Representatives
SA Rural Manager - Andre Pretorius
SA Blind Cricket Team - Sphelelele Khalala
SA Blind Cricket Team - Mathula Dlamini
SA Blind Cricket Team - Luthando Naki
SA Blind Cricket Team - Mpumelelo Luthuli
SA Blind Cricket Team - Anathi Xelelo
SA Blind Cricket Team - Teboho Moloisane
SA Veterans - Over 50's - Charles Webber
SA Veterans - Over 60's - Andy Lund
SA Veterans - Over 60's - Paul Gouge
SA U19 - Bandile Mbatha
SA U19 - Nqobani Mokoena
SA U19 - Ntando Soni
SA U19 - Semal Pillay
SA U19 - Sandiswa Yeni
SA U19 Women's World Cup - Seshnie Naidu
SA Schools - Ross Coetzee
SA Schools - Nqobani Mokoena
SA Schools Colts - Dayalan Boyce
SA Schools Colts - Sandiswa Yeni
SA Fillies - Olwethu Gasa
Youth Awards
EMCU U11 T20 Player of the Final - Kwenza Hlophe
EMCU U11 T20 Winner- Parkgate Hambanathi CC
EMCU U13 T20 Player of the Final - Yahya Limbada
EMCU U13 T20 Winner - Chatsworth Sporting CC
EMCU U16 T20 - Player of the Final - Cael Pillay
EMCU U16 T20 Winner - Chatsworth Sporting CC
EMCU Junior Development Team of the Year - Kwamashu - Ink Hub
KZNCU U11 Boys Hub Player of the Year - Bandile Cele
KZNCU U13 Girls Hub Player of the Year - Anelisa Mhlongo
KZNCU U13 Boys Hub Player of the Year - Samkelo Zondo
KZNCU U15 Boys Hub Player of the Year - Asibongwe Mbili
KZNCU U16 Boys Hub Player of the Year - Fanele Mpisane
KZNCU U16 Girls Hub Player of the Year - Ziyanda Xulu
KZNCU U19 Girls Hub Player of the Year - Entle Makaliphi
KZNCU U17 Boys Hub Player of the Year - Sbani Qwabe
KZNCU Hub of the Year - Ink Hub
KZNCU Hub Administrator/Coach of the Year - Mzwandile Sibiya
Senior Awards
EMCU Wade Award - Amanzimtoti CC
EMCU Senior Development Team of the Year - West CC
EMCU Division 5 T20 Winner - Harlequins CC
EMCU Division 5 League 2 Winner - Tongaat Maidstone CC
EMCU Division 5 League 1 Winner - Crusaders CC
EMCU Division 4 League 2 Winner - Simplex Res. Hills Crimson Clares CC
EMCU Division 4 League 1 Winner - Simplex Res. Hills Crimson Clares CC
EMCU Division 3 League 2 Winner - Simplex Res. Hills Crimson Clares CC
EMCU Division 3 League 1 Winner - Rhythm DHSOB
EMCU Division 2 T20 Promotion Reserve Winner - Railways CC
EMCU Division 1 T20 Premier Reserve Winner - Crusaders CC
EMCU Division 1 League Premier Reserve Winner - Delta CC
EMCU Club of the Year - Simplex Res. Hills Crimson Clares CC
EMCU President Award - Bronwyn Gounden - Chatsworth Sporting CC
Match officials
KZNCU Scorer of the Year- Mongezi Bulose
KZNCU Newcomer Scorer of the Year - Jody Ann-Roux
KZNCU Club Scorer of the Year - Justice Cele
KZNCU Umpires Umpire of the Year - Mobeen Rasool
KZNCU Newcomer Umpire of the Year - Dayne Dixon
KZNCU Club Umpire of the Year - Dawood Mather
Outstanding Service Awards - Babs Gcuma
Outstanding Service Awards - Dennis Smith
KZNCU Club Groundsman of the Year - Fahiem Hoosen
KZNCU Groundsman of the Year - Blessy Ramsamy
KFC Mini Cricket
KFC Mini Cricket Coach of the Year - Clinton Moodley
eThekwini KFC Centre of the Year - Chatsworth and Phoenix
King Cetshwayo KFC Centre of the Year - Felixton Mini Cricket Centre
Mtubatuba KFC Centre of the Year - Mtubatuba Schools
Ugu KFC Centre of the Year - South City Centre
KFC Overall Centre of the Year - Outer West Mini Cricket Schools
Differently Abled Awards
Hollywoodbets Dolphins Blind Cricketer of the Year - Anathi Xelelo
Dolphins Intellectually Impaired Cricketer of the Year - Sebastian Govender
League Winners Per District
SNCU League Winner - Port Shepstone Cricket Club
Ilembe League Winner - Oceanville Cricket Club
KCCD League Winner - Eshowe Cricket Club
Umzinto League Winner - Old Boys Cricket Club
Veterans T20 League Winner - Delta CC
Veterans League
Bowling Award - Jamil Bajwa - DHS Rhythm
Batting Award - Mohmed Shakir Gangat - DHS Rhythm
League - DHS Rhythm
CASTLE PROMOTION WOMEN’S LEAGUE
Bowling Award - Megan Powell - Amanzimtoti CC
Batting Award - Noxolo Biyela KCCD
League Winner - KCCD
CASTLE WOMEN’S Premier T20
Winner - Lindelani CC
CASTLE MEN'S PROMOTION T20
Winner - Southern Natal CC
CASTLE PROMOTION LEAGUE
Bowling Award - Comfort Shange - Simplex Resevoir Hills Crimson Clares CC
Batting Award - Brian Vickery - Railways
Winner - Southern Natal CC
CASTLE PREMIER WOMEN’S LEAGUE
Bowling Award - Shreeya Subbiah - Chatsworth Sporting CC
Batting Award - Olwethu Gasa - Lindelani CC
Winner - Lindelani CC
CASTLE PREMIER MEN'S LEAGUE
Bowling Award - Josh Henry - Delta CC
Batting Award - Tylor Treneworth - Amanzimtoti CC
T20 Winner - Crusaders CC
Winner - Amanzimtoti CC
PROVINCIAL AWARDS
Dolphins U11 Player of the Year - James Hill
Dolphins U13 Player of the Year - Cameron Rudolph
Dolphins U13 Girls Player of the Year - Ziya Mohanlall
Dolphins U15 Player of the Year - Caleb Naicker & Aron Blackburn
Dolphins U16 Girls Player of the Year - Shreeya Subbiah
Dolphins U16 Player of the Year - Kreesan Pillai
Dolphins U17 Player of the Year - Josh Van Biljon
Dolphins U17 Rural Player of the Year - Yadav Dayaram
Dolphins U19 Girls Player of the Year - Olwethu Gasa
Dolphins U19 Player of the Year - Ross Coetzee
Dolphins Schools Coach of the Year - Dheyanka Naidoo
SA20 Schools Representative: Girls - John Dube
SA20 Schools Representative: Boys - Northwood Boys High
KZNCU President's Award - Andre Ellapen - Southern Natal
NATIONAL AWARDS
National T20 Ladies Community Cup Representatives - Lindelani CC
National T20 Men Community Cup Representatives - Crusaders CC
Intellectually Impaired National Cup Winners - Dolphins Intellectually Impaired Cricket Team
U16 Girls National Week Winners - Dolphins U16 Girls