Young cricketer Andile Mokgakane has achieved his first big goal of landing a professional contract with the Dolphins, but he is not about to take it easy because he has even loftier ambitions for the future.
The 21-year-old is one of six new additions to the Dolphins team who are set to start the new domestic season on Monday.
Mokgakane and his team-mates will get their campaign on the road with CSA 4-Day competition against the Lions at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban at 9 am.
Mokgakane, who started playing cricket during his primary school days in Lindelani Township in Durban, said all he wanted as young boy was to play for the Dolphins.
The Northwood High School old boy has been in the KwaZulu-Natal Cricket set-up since he was scouted when he was doing Grade 6 at Mandlakazulu Primary in Ntuzuma.
“I’m very excited because coming out of school and getting a contract from the Dolphins it’s what I’ve always dreamt of,” said Mokgakane.
“It doesn’t happen to a lot of people, so I’m very grateful that it happened for me. I’ve been enjoying it, it’s been nice and very amazing.”
Even though the top-order batsman is still to make his debut in coach Imraan Khan’s team, he has already outlined that he wants to get into the South African A side within the next three years.
“For me, I just want to stay at this level. Obviously, there’s ups and downs in cricket, it’s a funny game so I just want to stay here and make my way up to teams like SA A and Proteas.
“I just don’t want to go down, no one wants that,” said Mokgakane, who has represented the country’s U19 side at the World Cup level. “My goal is playing here for the Dolphins and making my way up to the Proteas.”
Other Monday fixtures will see the Knights host the Warriors while the Titans travel to Cobras. Both matches starts at 10 am.
