Proteas legends lead South Africa's young stars

Four former Proteas Women players will be at the helm of the South Africa Under-19 Women in the second edition of the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup Malaysia 2025.

Dinesha Devnarain, Trisha Chetty, Marcia Letsoalo and Angelique Taai have all donned the green and gold and now look to impart knowledge and lessons to the next generation of players.

With the team aiming to improve on their inaugural performance and go all the way in this year’s tournament, the coaching staff’s wealth of experience and expertise is proving to be a vital asset as they prepare to chase greatness on the world stage.

After narrowly missing out on a play-off spot in 2023 due to net run rate, head coach Dinesha Devnarain emphasised the importance of preparation and unity in pursuit of excellence.

“It is a massive honour and privilege to head up the SA U19 Women for the second time. Working with the 2023 and 2025 groups has given me the opportunity to see what’s coming next for women’s cricket and to holistically represent the Women’s Proteas brand.

"We’ve placed a strong focus on building a cohesive leadership team, aligning with our philosophy of playing an aggressive yet calculated brand of cricket that mirrors the Proteas Women,” she continued.

"As a former Proteas player, my coaching philosophy prioritises people before performance. I believe in developing players holistically, focusing on small improvements and fostering a culture of care and growth. It’s about getting 1% better each day and doing the basics exceptionally well,” said Devnarain.

Team Manager Marcia Letsoalo shared her perspective on the team’s journey: “This team represents the future of South African women’s cricket, and it’s been a privilege to be part of their development. We’ve worked tirelessly to instil a sense of purpose and pride in wearing the green and gold.

“The journey to the World Cup has been about more than just cricket; it’s been about teaching these young stars the values of teamwork, dedication and self-belief.

“Chasing greatness on the world stage is no easy feat but I’m confident in this group’s ability to rise to the occasion and make South Africa proud,” said Letsoalo.

The team’s fielding coach, Trisha Chetty, expressed her excitement about mentoring the next generation of Proteas.

“It has been a bit of a rollercoaster over the past 18 months but the girls have worked incredibly hard and have set high standards as a fielding unit. Our focus now is on maintaining those standards at the World Cup and building the resilience to bounce back when things don’t go our way.

“Transitioning into coaching after 16 years of playing at the highest level has allowed me to share my knowledge and experiences with these young players. It’s an incredible feeling to help them develop not only their skills but also the mental toughness needed to thrive in high-pressure situations,” said Chetty.

Angelique Taai, the team’s bowling coach, highlighted the comprehensive development of the bowling unit: “We’ve worked on fundamental skills and fitness to ensure our bowlers can sustain their performance throughout the tournament. Mental toughness and adaptability have been a significant focus, as young bowlers often face challenges when playing on different pitches and in varying conditions.

“As a former Proteas bowler, I’ve been able to draw on my experience to nurture the next generation. By blending technical knowledge with personal insights from my playing days, I hope to contribute to the success of this team and its individuals. Our bowlers are prepared to face the challenges of the World Cup with confidence and resilience.”

South Africa U19 Women Squad

Kayla Reyneke (Captain, Western Province), Jemma Botha (Western Province), Fay Cowling (Lions), Jae-Leigh Filander (Western Province), Mona-Lisa Legodi (Titans), Simoné Lourens (Titans), Karabo Meso (Lions), Seshnie Naidu (Dolphins), Nthabiseng Nini (Dragons), Luyanda Nzuza (Free State), Diara Ramlakan (Lions), Diedré van Rensburg (Dragons), Mieke van Voorst (Storm), Ashleigh van Wyk (Storm), Chanel Venter (Titans).

Non-travelling Reserves

Lethabo Bidli (Lions), Keamogetswe Chuene (Lions), Jenna-Lee Lubbe (Lions), Jané Verhage (Titans), Sinelethu Yaso (Western Province).

Management

Dinesha Devnarain (Head Coach), Marcia Letsoalo (Team Manager), PJ Jansen (Batting Coach), Angelique Taai (Bowling Coach), Trisha Chetty (Fielding Coach), Adele van Eck (High-Performance Analyst), Dr Dhavina Naidoo (Team Doctor), Esther Bhengu (Physiotherapist), Stacey-Lee Hercules (Strength and Conditioning Coach), Terrence Adonis (Educator), Alungile Nyakambi (Media Specialist).

SA U19 Women Fixtures

Monday @ 8.30am SAST: First Warm-Up: South Africa U19 v Ireland (Selangor Turf Club, Kaula Lumpur)

Wednesday @ 8.30am SAST: Second Warm-Up: India v South Africa U19 (YSD-UKM Cricket Oval, Bangi)

Saturday, 18 January @ 8.30am SAST - First Match: New Zealand v South Africa U19 (Borneo Cricket Ground, Sarawak)

Monday, 20 January @ 8.30am SAST - Second Match: South Africa U19 v Samoa (Borneo Cricket Ground, Sarawak)

Wednesday, 22 January @ 8.30am SAST - Third Match: South Africa U19 v Nigeria (Borneo Cricket Ground, Sarawak)

Saturday, 25 January - Wednesday, 29 January - Super Six Stage

Friday, 31 January @ 4.30am SAST - First Semi-final (Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur)

Friday, 31 January @ 8.30am SAST - Second Semi-final (Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur)

Sunday, 2 February @ 8.30am SAST - Final (Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur)