18-year-old makes it to the T20 Global League draft

In the T20 Global League draft that took place last Sunday, the Bloemfontein City Blazers surprised everyone as they picked up Akhona Mnyaka, an 18 years old teenager. Hailing from the Hudson Park High School in East London, Mnyaka was picked up in round 15 of the draft for a contract amounting to R 130,000 a year. His selection also made him the youngest player in the competition.

Mnyaka has toured Sri Lanka with the SA Under-19s and played in the series earlier this year but missed out against the West Indies in July because he had to undergo his traditional rite of passage in June. Coming from a not so rich background, his mother is a domestic worker and his father is currently unemployed. Thus, playing in a tournament like that which also boasts of international stars would be a huge deal for him.

Words from the youngster 

“I’d heard I was in the draft, but I don’t know who put me there,” he said from the school hostel this week. When asked about his aspirations after having landed a contract, Mnyaka said that he will save the money. “But I’m quite keen and I’m prepared to work hard and see how it goes. I’m a bit nervous, but I’ve been working hard so I don’t worry much; I’ll just do my best,” he added.

The youngster is expected to share the dressing room with international stars like David Miller, Kieron Pollard and Chris Jordan. He received the news on social media while watching football. He later received a call from his U19 coach Lawrence Mahatlane confirming the move.

Views of his coaches

“He’s a left-arm seamer who swings the ball and has got a big heart,” said Mahatlane. “He ran the whole day in the Sri Lankan heat and he’s willing to learn. He’s got a good yorker, he swings the ball back into the right-hander; can bowl a good bouncer and has good control and direction. The big thing about him has been his growth. He’s grown in confidence from his first tour, where he was a young man who was intimidated by the whole thing because it was his first overseas trip,” he said.

Robin Peterson who’s the assistant coach of the Blazers also put up his views on Mnyaka. “I was a consultant for the SA Under-19s and I’d seen him bowl at the Coke Week and in the triangular series. He’s tall and wiry, and he’ll get quicker as he grows – the wiry ones do – but I’m most impressed with his work ethic and his skills. He bowls a good bouncer and he’s got a really great attitude – he’s got all the ingredients to be a good player.”

Peterson mentioned that Mnyaka was not “picked to make up the numbers,” he will play. “He might be 18, but he’s talented,” he stated.