Western Province Men and Women putting in the hard yards ahead of the new season

The World Sports Betting (WSB) Western Province Men’s team has embraced the chilly Cape Town winter as pre-season preparations are in full swing.

With new signing Jiveshan Pillay joining the team for pre-season, the Boys in Blue are putting in the hard work as preparations for the 2025/26 domestic season progress well.

Western Province Men will be aiming to rectify last season’s shortcomings under the leadership of newly appointed head coach Rory Kleinveldt at World Sports Betting Newlands.

Kleinveldt makes his return to Newlands following a successful tenure in the UK, where he served as lead bowling coach for Northamptonshire County Cricket Club.

The 42-year-old’s appointment follows the departure of former head coach, Salieg Nackerdien, who concluded his tenure at the end of the 2024/25 season.

Another new signing, Tshepo Moreki, along with all-rounder Mihlali Mpongwana, is expected to join the training camp this week following their return from a successful tour of St Lucia with the South Africa 'A' (SA ‘A’) side. Meanwhile, Joshua van Heerden is set to link up with the team at the beginning of August.

The Boys in Blue got their winter programme underway with a challenging hike up the demanding Constantia Nek trail.

Strength and conditioning coach Dieter Swanepoel commented: “We are four weeks into our pre-season program thus far and I’m very happy with the progress that the guys have made.

“We started our winter training off with a couple of hikes up Constantia Nek and Table Mountain, balancing the training objectives with a bit of team cohesion and good banter. The players also underwent their baseline fitness profiling before commencing with the formal strength and conditioning program” he said.

“The wet weather hasn't been ideal for our cardiovascular sessions but it just meant more time indoors on the machines. Every winter it is pretty much the same weather, wet and cold, so it’s just a matter of being adaptable and at times creative.

“The guys' attitudes and energies have been awesome thus far. There has been a good focus and determination from the guys with how they are going about their business, which is exciting.” Swanepoel concluded.

It’s been intense work for the World Sports Betting (WSB) Western Province Women’s team as they kick off their pre-season programme.

The Girls In Blue have been hard at training as the preparations for the Hollywoodbets Pro Series are underway.

Claire Terblanche’s squad will be determined to retain their Hollywoodbets Pro20 crown, following a triumphant 2024/25 campaign in which they successfully defended their T20 title.

Building on that momentum, the team will aim to consolidate their dominance in the short-format arena, with a strategic focus on consistency, squad depth and match temperament as key pillars for a successful title defence.

After finishing second in the 50-over format, the team is determined to reclaim the top spot this season.

Pre-season training has been going well, with a noticeable sense of excitement and motivation among the players as they gear up for the upcoming season.

“The energy during our sessions has been consistently high, the ladies are engaged, joyful, and fully present in their training,” commented the Girls In Blue strength and conditioning coach, Simamkele Vena.

“They are embracing this phase of our periodization plan with a positive mindset, understanding that the foundation for the season ahead is built now. In our sessions, I feel there’s strong sense of purpose driving their efforts.

“Our motto for this pre-season has been: 'Cry now, laugh later'. It perfectly captures the spirit of delayed gratification, putting in the hard work now to reap the rewards when it matters most.”

The pre-season training has been progressing well at World Sports Betting Newlands Cricket Ground. The team officially began their program with the players in May, focusing initially on injury prevention and recovery-based training.

“During this phase, we implemented Prehab Microcycle 1 sessions, aimed at addressing any residual niggles and establishing a foundation for injury resilience,” said Vena

“In June, we transitioned into Prehab Microcycle 2, which builds on the foundation laid in the previous phase. This structured approach ensures that as we move from the off-season into the pre-season, the players are physically prepared, injury-free and not prone to setbacks.

“While pre-season training has generally been progressing well, recent bad weather and persistent rain have caused some disruptions, particularly on the conditioning component of our prehab sessions. These interruptions have limited our ability to fully implement outdoor elements of the program.

“Despite the setbacks, we’ve adapted by focusing on what can be done indoors, prioritizing mobility, stability, and activation work.”

Vena says the mood among the players has been incredibly positive with noticeable shift in their mindset and the collective energy is fuelling towards pre-season efforts.

He believes the overarching goal for this season is bold but clear – is to secure both trophies.

“It’s a target we’ve chased in the past but this time there’s a heightened sense of belief and commitment. The players understand that the groundwork laid now will directly influence our ability to achieve that outcome,” added Vena.

“We’re also having more meaningful conversations during sessions, connecting with the players about their individual aspirations and how they align with our collective mission.

“It’s evident that the hard work being put in now is not just for fitness, it’s purpose-driven and that’s what makes it powerful. If the momentum continues in this direction, I truly believe this could be the season we bring home both trophies.”