World champions inspire next generation of cricketers

Proteas visit Langa

By Ashraf Hendricks

25 July 2025

Proteas Captain Temba Bavuma brings the World Test Championship (WTC) mace to Langa, his hometown.

After winning the World Test Championship (WTC), the Proteas made their first official tour in Langa, the home of Proteas Captain Temba Bavuma. The team met with primary school students and fans at the Langa cricket grounds where they played mini-cricket and signed autographs. The event was organised by Cricket South Africa. The event was followed by a bus tour around Langa.

Bavuma thanked the community for coming to see the Proteas. Addressing the crowd in Xhosa, he said that it was an opportunity for everyone to share “our moment”. Referring to the players, he said that people here are the same as you, and with the right type of support and resources you can also reach great heights.

“This is where Temba Bavuma’s cricket career started and this is where kids like Temba Bavuma are also playing cricket and need to be inspired,” said ward councillor Lwazi Phakade. He said that seeing children in the township participating makes him happy. He said that this is an historic moment “not just for Langa, but for South Africa”.

Bavuma plays mini cricket with primary school children.

Tony de Zorzi signs autographs.

A number of schools participated, including Westville Primary, Thembani Primary School and Blackheath Primary.

Aiden Markram signs autographs at the event. Markram, scored a winning century against Australia, for South Africa to win the test world championship.

Dane Paterson and Marco Jansen play mini-cricket.

The winning Proteas team poses for a photo.