Zaahier Adams
The old saying that ‘dynamite comes in small packages’ could not be more true of Western Province’s seam bowler Nosipho Vezi.
Whatever Vezi lacks in height, she sure makes up with her performances, having been one of WP’s leading bowlers the past four seasons down at Newlands. The 23-year-old once again played a pivotal role with the ball last season, claiming 16 wickets at an average of 17.43 to power Province to the CSA Women’s One-Day Cup title.
This included a four-wicket haul against the all-star Lions team. She also bagged 11 wickets at an average of 18.72 in the CSA Women’s T20 Challenge.
Congratulations to our fast bowler Nosipho Vezi after walking away with WSB WP Women's 1 Day Cup Player of the Year and WSB WP Women's Player of the Year accolades in the WPCA Awards last night. 🥳💃😍🏆#WPcricket #westernprovince #WSBNewlands #WSBWP🧡#WPCAawards #GirlsInBlue💙 pic.twitter.com/1wsH2VwN6N
— WPCA (@wp_cricket) August 25, 2024
Vezi was acknowledged for these stellar performances at the Western Province Cricket Association awards at Newlands on Saturday evening, being named the One-Day Cup Player of the Year and overall WP Women’s Player of the Year.
“This means so much to me,” a visibly emotional Vezi told Independent Newspapers.
“It’s not just the personal accolades, but as a team we’ve worked through so many hardships to win the trophy. The way we picked ourselves up. We’re champions, and it feels really good to be honoured after all the matches.”
Although South African women’s cricket turned professional at the start of last season with domestic players now also being contracted, Vezi remains a student at UWC.
She is currently doing her Honours in Psychology.
The Gugulethu star, who moved to Cape Town as a teenager with her family from KwaZulu-Natal via Mthtatha, is truly grateful for the role Udubs has played in developing her both on and off the field through their Sports Skills for Life Skills (SS4LS) programme.
“We’re champions, and it feels really good to be honoured after all the matches.”
Fellow SS4LS graduates include Proteas Women’s batter Andries Steyn, Proteas men’s fast bowler Lizaad Willams and SA Emerging captain and Western Province men’s all-rounder Mihlali Mpongwana.
“The SS4LS programme’s amazing. I don’t think I would be a graduate today if it wasn’t for them. I wasn’t accepted at UWC at first when I applied there,” she said.
“I applied for law, and then they rejected my application, but they told me there’s another programme that you can get into.
“But it was like R35 000, and they covered everything. I was so blessed. They were so supportive.
“I can’t really explain it. They provide you with tutors and everything. And of course, playing cricket for Udubs was great.”
Vesi harbours hopes of representing the Proteas one day and from there on hopefully having the opportunity of playing in the various T20 leagues around the world.