Protea’s coach Hilton Moreeng says the Momentum Proteas ICC Women’s T20 World Cup has set the benchmark for the upcoming 2023 women’s world cups.
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture announced a R7.5 million incentive to the Momentum Proteas ICC Women’s T20 World Cup runners-up team, as well as R15 million to Cricket South Africa (CSA) over the next three years towards a professional league. Picture: Palesa Manaleng/Eyewitness News.
JOHANNESBURG – The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture announced a R7.5 million incentive for the Momentum Proteas ICC Women’s T20 World Cup runners-up team, as well as R15 million to Cricket South Africa (CSA) over the next three years towards a professional league.
“Our Proteas made history by becoming the first South African team to progress to the final of the Cricket World Cup,” said the Deputy Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture- Nocawe Noncedo Mafu.
READ: Proteas Women make cricket history at T20 World Cup
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture is hosting the Momentum Proteas for a luncheon in recognition of their achievement of reaching the #T20WorldCup final in February. pic.twitter.com/NT7dDQvQVV
‘ EWN Sport (@EWNsport) March 28, 2023
The announcement was made by Mafu at a special gathering in Melrose in Johannesburg on Tuesday, where the Proteas Women were honoured for their performance at the T20 World Cup that was hosted in Mzansi.
“It’s an honour to be here and to be recognised for something that we love to do and I think all the girls here woke up one day and decided that cricket is their dream and they wanted to peruse it and these are the moments we live for being in a final,” said Proteas captain Sune Luus.
The captain further commented on the money awarded towards a cricket league: “I hope that the R5 million each year will be put to good use and will be put to the development of women’s cricket in South Africa to get us to more world cups and help us achieve even more greatness.”
READ: Momentum Proteas make history with silver in the women’s T20 World Cup final
Deputy Minister Mafu has announced the awarding of a R7,5 million bonus for the Proteas players and staff. She has also pledged R5 million for each of the next 3 years for the development of a professional women’s cricket league. pic.twitter.com/MS01VQOIjp
‘ EWN Sport (@EWNsport) March 28, 2023
At the event, the Momentum Proteas Women’s team were also handed medals from the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture to serve as reminders of their historic sporting moment.
“The Momentum Proteas have brought the glare of the world to this beautiful sport and united the nation. It was not a mistake that the Momentum Proteas made it to the ICC final at the World Cup, making history in the process. We are gathered here to celebrate excellence as demonstrated by this team in the field of play,” said CSA CEO Pholetsi Moseki.
South Africa put in a record-breaking display to beat England in the semi-final but fell 19 runs short in the final where they were beaten by six-time champions Australia at Newlands cricket ground.
Celebrating the @momentumproteas today pic.twitter.com/FxyyWEj2US
‘ Nocawe Mafu (@MafuNoncedo) March 28, 2023
“I don’t know how I’m feeling this is not something that we expected as a team [making it to the final] and I think we said earlier that a few world cups are coming this year, this year is dedicated to female sports, and we have set the benchmark. We hope we have passed on the baton to netball and soccer to do better. They have our full support from us as a cricketing family,” said Protea’s coach Hilton Moreeng.
The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee expressed its gratitude to the Momentum Proteas women thanking them for inspiring the nation at large and bringing their A-game even when faced with challenges in the sporting world.
“It’s a great pleasure to speak on behalf of the sporting community of South Africa to express our gratitude. I know a lot of people congratulate you, but we would like to express our gratitude. Especially from those of us who understand the challenges of being an athlete in this country especially with you having been athletes before the contracts started and the accolades started coming in you still woke up every morning dawned the green and gold to represent your country,” Sascoc Vice-President Lwandile Simelane.
