A year ago, Border cricket teenager and Cricket SA award nominee Liyema Jubati sat in her home in Mdantsane wondering what more she could do to rise up the ranks after an impressive season with Iinyathi women.
Head coach Lwando Manase sat with her at Buffalo Park after a training session and gave her words of encouragement to change the narrative.
Hard work and dedication to the job were words repeatedly mentioned in that conversation, Jubati recalled.
Now, as from Thursday, the 19-year-old has joined the Lions on a high performance contract and on Thursday night stands a chance of being awarded the CSA Women’s provincial player of the year accolade.
This comes after an impressive 2023/2024 season for Border, where she led the charts with an impressive haul of 26 wickets.
Her exceptional performances underscored the depth of talent in division two.
In a conversation with the Dispatch, Manase, who first saw Jubati in 2021 when he took office for Iinyathi women, said “Bhuti, she is destined for big things” when asked about the teenager.
Jubati’s career script is what many would say is written in the stars and it would not be a surprise if she makes the Proteas team after a few seasons with the Lions, according to Manase.
She is in the SA history books as the youngest player to make a senior provincial debut, at the age of 15 in 2019.
“She works incredibly hard in her training and always strives for perfection,” Manase said.
“That is not something you often see from most players, especially at her age. When you are watching her in action, you sometimes forget she is a teenager.”
The former Port Rex pupil says she is now ready to take the next step after getting a professional contract with the Gauteng side.
She has settled in Johannesburg for the next chapter of her career, which she acknowledged would be difficult because of the transition to division one.
The Lions team includes Proteas players Ayabonga Khaka, Sinalo Jafta, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloe Tryon and Tazmin Brits.
Jafta and Khaka’s roots trace back to Border cricket, which was something that inspired her, Jubati said, along with the example of Nqaba Peter, who joined the Lions from Iinyathi and played two Twenty20 men’s internationals in the West Indies in May.
DispatchLIVE
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.