KZN Hosts Fast Bowler Search

Audi, CSA and Ngam scout local bowling talent

7 October 2017. Durban.  The search for South Africa’s next great fast bowler continued today when the Audi Q5 Fast Track visited Chatsworth.  The initiative, which is led by Audi, Cricket South Africa (CSA) and former Proteas quick and development guru, Mfuneko Ngam, is the first designed to utilise state-of-the-art technology to unearth the hidden gems of South African fast blowing.  It is currently taking place around the country and today identified a number of talented local young bowlers who will now be given the chance to prove themselves in front of CSA’s development structures. 

Lead talent scout Mfuneko Ngam, commented, “Our first events in Gauteng and Eastern Cape were resounding successes and today was no different.  I have been very impressed by the level of talent we have uncovered so far.  We are very excited at the prospect of one of these young bowlers following in the footsteps of the great Proteas bowlers who came before them.”

On the day, local bowlers between the ages of 15 and 18 were given the opportunity to showcase their talent in front of a powerful development team.  Bowlers were given the chance to illustrate their skills in the nets with the most promising selected to have their bowling measured on the Audi Bowling Lab - a set-up which utilises state-of-the-art PitchVision technology to instantly analyse a bowler’s performance by comparing pace, line, length, deviation and bounce to that of a current Proteas bowler.

Ngam and his team, which included CSA representatives and local coaches, utilised the scoring system of the Audi Bowling Lab to select the talented boys and girls who will now be put in front of CSA development structures.  The standout bowlers on the day were Kovilan Pillay from Chatsworth and Xolani Shezi, from KwaNdengezi.  

Trevor Hill, Head of Audi South Africa, concluded, “Today continued our search for standout fast bowlers and Durban did not disappoint.  As Progressive Partner to the Proteas, Audi is proud to be able to take our partnership with CSA to the next level by driving progress in a development space.  The prospect of potentially uncovering the next Ntini or Ngam, together with CSA, is something we are not only excited by but which we are striving towards.”

For more information on the Audi Q5 Fast Track go to https://nowiscalling.co.za/fast-track.

Video Clip with an Interview with Mfuneko Ngam:

Mthatha Hosts Fast Bowler Search

Audi, CSA and Ngam scout local bowling talent

5 October 2017. Durban.  The search for South Africa’s next great fast bowler continued this week when the Audi Q5 Fast Track visited Mthatha.  The initiative, which is led by Audi, Cricket South Africa (CSA) and former Proteas quick and development guru, Mfuneko Ngam, is the first designed to utilise state-of-the-art technology to unearth the hidden gems of South African fast blowing.  It is currently taking place around the country and on Wednesday identified a number of talented local young bowlers who will now be given the chance to prove themselves in front of CSA’s development structures. 

Lead talent scout Mfuneko Ngam, commented, “Our first event in Gauteng was a resounding success and today was no different.  I have been very impressed by the level of talent we have uncovered so far.  We are very excited at the prospect of one of these young bowlers following in the footsteps of the great Proteas bowlers who came before them.”

On the day, local bowlers between the ages of 15 and 18 were given the opportunity to showcase their talent in front of a powerful development team.  Bowlers were given the chance to illustrate their skills in the nets with the most promising selected to have their bowling measured on the Audi Bowling Lab - a set-up which utilises state-of-the-art PitchVision technology to instantly analyse a bowler’s performance by comparing pace, line, length, deviation and bounce to that of a current Proteas bowler.

Ngam and his team, which included CSA representatives and local coaches, utilised the scoring system of the Audi Bowling Lab to select the talented boys and girls who will now be put in front of CSA development structures.  The standout bowlers on the day were Mzani Mbeko, from Mqanduli and Sibabalwe Takatshana, from Mount Frere.

Trevor Hill, Head of Audi South Africa, concluded, “This weekend continued our search for standout fast bowlers and the Eastern Cape did not disappoint.  As Progressive Partner to the Proteas, Audi is proud to be able to take our partnership with CSA to the next level by driving progress in a development space.  The prospect of potentially uncovering the next Ntini or Ngam, together with CSA, is something we are not only excited by but which we are striving towards.”

For more information on the Audi Q5 Fast Track go to https://nowiscalling.co.za/fast-track.

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Picture captions:

1. The winner and runners up at the Audi Q5 Fast Track. Names L - R: Thamsanqa Nomphandela, Mzazi Mbeko, Mfuneko Ngam, Asaphila Jani and Sibabaiwe Taka-Shana

2. Boys winner: Mzazi Mbeko

3. Girls Winner: Sibabaiwe Take-Shana

4. Group picture of all of the boys and girls that took part in the Audi Q5 Fast Track

5. Mfuneko Ngam

Video Clip with an Interview with Mfuneko Ngam:

‘Now is calling’ for cricket development

Audi, the Progressive Partner to the Proteas, has unveiled the Audi Q5 Fast Track, a new development initiative aimed at unearthing the next crop of great South African fast bowlers.  The initiative will be run in conjunction with Cricket South Africa (CSA) and will be the first to utilise state-of-the-art technology to assess and identify previously untapped talent from disadvantaged areas.  The programme will be powered by a fleet of Audi Q5s which will be taking Audi’s ‘Bowling Lab’ technology to locations around South Africa over the coming month. 

“The Audi Q5 Fast Track is an innovative and very exciting concept for South African cricket,” commented CSA Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat. “It is well known that the Proteas have been blessed over the years with a wonderful array of fast bowlers like Allan Donald, Brett Schultz, Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini among the former greats and Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander and Chris Morris among the current stars.

“It goes without saying that we need to maintain our leadership in this field if we are to remain among the world’s best cricket playing nations.

“It is fitting that we are partnering with Audi who have a long-standing reputation for speed, efficiency, technical innovation and all-round excellence,” Mr. Lorgat concluded.

As Progressive Partner to the Proteas, Audi developed the ‘Bowling Lab’, a set-up which utilises state of the art PitchVision technology to instantly analyse a bowler’s performance by comparing pace, line, length, deviation and bounce to that of a current Proteas bowler.  It is this technology which will assist the Audi Q5 Fast Track team in their aim of unearthing hidden bowling gems.

The team tasked with identifying and unlocking the potential of talented young bowlers will be made up of some of the most prominent individuals in South African development cricket.  They will be led by ex-Protea speedster and development guru Mfuneko Ngam. Ngam will be joined by CSA appointed coaching experts including former Proteas bowler Victor Mpitsang. 

 “’Now is calling’ for the vast array of unidentified bowling talent across our country,” said Ngam.  

“I am really excited to be a part of an initiative aimed at giving young boys and girls who would otherwise never have had the opportunity a chance to be noticed.  To have the ability to utilise world class technology in disadvantaged communities will be a watershed moment in helping us select the right kids to get them into CSA development structures.  I can’t wait to see the talent we will discover, together with Audi, over the coming month.” 

The Audi Q5 Fast Track will be visiting locations across Gauteng, Limpopo, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Eastern Cape and Western Cape over a one-month period with the first event taking place at Kagiso Cricket Club on 23 September 2017. 

Trevor Hill, head of Audi South Africa, concluded, “Audi is proud to be able to support CSA in driving cricketing progress through the technology of the Audi Bowling Lab and the new Audi Q5.  As progressive partner to the Proteas, we strive to bring exciting and innovative programmes and initiatives to the team, fans and customers with the aim of progressing the cricket experience.  In line with that aim, we are now very excited to take our existing initiatives a step further by assisting CSA in progressing cricket as a whole through the Audi Q5 Fast Track.”