Kwena Maphaka: Inspired by Legends, South Africa's Rising Star Debuts on the World Stage
From his impressive performances at the U19 World Cup to his IPL debut, Maphaka draws inspiration from fast bowling legends like Curtley Ambrose as he carves out his own legacy.
Image Credit: Michael Steele-ICC/ICC via Getty Images
From making his Indian Premier League debut earlier this year to being the youngest ever South African to play international cricket, Maphaka’s story is one of a young prodigy.
WHERE DOES KWENA MAPHAKA COME FROM?
About a decade ago, a 19-year-old fast bowler from South Africa stole the hearts of fans around the world with his spirited and passionate performances at the 2014 Under 19 World Cup. That was a young Kagiso Rabada.
At the time, Rabada was fresh out of high school where he went to 'Saints' an Ivy League school formerly referred to as St Stithians College where many other South African sporting greats emerged from.
Rabada went on to cement himself not only as a great in his generation but also among the greats of the game at large.
Just as the world is cherishing the talents of Rabada, another Johannesburg-born youngster in Kwena Maphaka, also coming from Saints, has taken the world by storm with his impressive talent with the ball in hand.
Image Credits: Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images
HIS JOURNEY SO FAR
From dominating the 2022 Under 19 World Cup at only 16 years of age in the Caribbean to running in at a packed Wankhede Stadium for Mumbai Indians two years later, Maphaka's rise has been nothing short of incredible.
A few months after making his Indian Premier League debut while still in high school, Maphaka became the youngest player to make an international debut for South Africa at 18 years of age when he donned the green and gold jersey in Trinidad during the recently concluded three-match T20I series against the Windies.
Maphaka says that from the tender age of six years old, he was already dreaming of being Proteas one day.
"It's something that I've been dreaming about my whole life, to represent the Proteas. To be the youngest to do it just adds the cherry on top of the cake," Maphaka told SportsBoom.com.
"From the age of six or seven years old, I've wanted to be a Proteas. The feeling of making your Proteas debut is amazing. It was very special when Saucy (Aiden Markram) handed me the ball.”
I mean, a year ago I was watching these guys on TV and now I'm in the change room with them, it's something that's surreal.
Kwena Maphaka
CURTLEY AMBROSE AND DEBUTING IN THE CARIBBEAN
Like many fast bowlers, Maphaka has always taken a liking to the great era of fast bowlers that the West Indies produced in the past.
The left-arm fast bowler has always singled out Curtley Ambrose as his role model among the many fast bowling greats that have emerged from the Caribbean Islands.
Given that Maphaka made his South Africa under-19 debut and now his international debut in the Caribbean, the youngster says it is a special feeling to do so in the land where his idol grew up.
Just like Ambrose, Maphaka has pace, aggression and control and he enjoys the battles between himself as a fast bowler and batter.
One of my cricketing role models has to be Curtley Ambrose. The way that he went about the game, his aggression and control, there were just so many things to like about him.
Kwena Maphaka
"The West Indies have a long line of fast bowlers that can be looked up to so it's really special to make my debut where there's so many greats.
"I like being in the batter's face, creating a battle even if there's no words involved. I like having a little stare down because it keeps me in the game and it lets the batters know that I'm not here to play around. It's a statement that I'd like to make." he added.
Ongama Gcwabe is an experienced Sports Journalist based in South Africa. In his career, Ongama’s work has been published in the country’s biggest newspapers company, Independe Newspapers, and some of the leading news and sports websites including IOL Sport.