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Ntini, a top ambassador
11/12/2007 12:25 - (SA)
Johannesburg - The man voted South Africa's most popular sportsman, fast bowler Makhaya Ntini, has done more to promote South Africa around the world than any other sportsman.
That is the opinion of long-serving Proteas manager Goolam Rajah, who said at the launch of Ntini's benefit year on Tuesday that Ntini was a natural ambassador for South Africa.
"Wherever he goes around the world, he is known and loved, and his attitude to fans is superb. He has such a passion for life," said Rajah. "I have seen more than a hundred fans standing outside the dressing room waiting for his autograph. He doesn't just sign their autographs - he gives every person in the queue a hug. That is the kind of man he is. He is probably one of the best role models in South Africa , when it comes to how to live and how to treat people. "
Ntini was first selected to represent South Africa in 1997, when he was included in the squad to tour Australia, making his international debut in a one-day international against New Zealand. In March 1997, he made history by becoming the first black South African Test cricketer, when he played against Sri Lanka in Cape Town.
Ntini's benefit year, which has been granted by the Border Cricket Board, gets underway on Friday with a 25-over a side match between the Makhaya Ntini Eleven and the touring West Indies team. Ntini, who came from humble beginnings in the rural village of Mdingi, has dedicated part of the proceeds from his benefit season to the King Williams' Town Children's Home and to cricket development, particularly in the Eastern Cape, with one of his visions being a bowling academy in the area..
"I want to see more black players coming through," he said. "I started off with Baker's Mini Cricket and then went through the development programme, and I believe there are other Makhaya Ntinis out there." Ntini said one of his goals for the coming year was to pass Allan Donald's total of 330 Test wickets, and to play for South Africa as much as possible.
Asked which cricket ground around the world was his favourite, Ntini surprised everyone with his reply, when he said "Bloemfontein".
"I love playing in Bloemfontein, because the people there make me feel at home. It is also a ground where you have to work hard for your wickets -you have to grind them out." His least favourite? "St Johns, Antigua," he said. "It's flat, flat, flat and it's the kind of ground where everyone has to bowl. Even Mark Boucher took off his wicket-keeping gloves and bowled, and he took two wickets! He's never let us forget that."
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