Ngam back in action

2003-09-24 22:09

Eunice Visagie

Port Elizabeth - Fast bowler Mfuneko Ngam is to make a welcome return to the Eastern Province cricket team for this week's friendly match against Boland at St George's Park.

The promising player was sidelined because of injury last season and only returned to competitive cricket for the South African Academy team against their counterparts from Pakistan recently.

"My goal for the season is to bowl as best as I can and to complete every match without injury," says Ngam. "Once I've achieved that, I'll start thinking about what happens next."

Eastern Province captain Carl Bradfield is delighted to have Ngam back in the team. And he says there should be no talk of possible injury at this stage. "Talking about injuries all the time serves no positive purpose. We must be very strong mentally."

He says he would like Ngam to focus on doing well for his province and not think about higher honours at this stage.

Slow left-arm bowler Robin Peterson will play for EP on Thursday before joining his national team-mates on Friday for their tour of Pakistan.

The teams for St George's Park:

EP: Carl Bradfield, Brett Tucker, Johan Botha, Arno Jacobs, Wade Wingfield, Ian Mitchell, Geoff Love, Bob Homani, Lyall Meyer, Brent Kops, Mfuneko Ngam, Robin Peterson.

Boland (from): Wallace Albertyn, Chad Baxter, Con de Lange, Henry Davids, Willem du Toit, Ryan Groenewald, Wesley Euley, Mark Sanders, Graham Marais, Rashaad Magiet, Gerhard Strydom, Jaques van Wyk, Henry Williams.

- Die Burger