Bay Stars hope Mandela name scores with community in T20 Global League

Nelson Mandela has played a crucial role in building bridges through Sport and his name is taken with a huge respect across the world. The franchise of Global T20 league, Nelson Mandela Bay Stars, is hoping his name to the team makes the difference to the community and their fans.

The Dubai based businessman, Ajay Sethi, owns the team Bay Stars and has named his team after the greatest South African in the inaugural T20 Global League in the rainbow nation in November-December. The team also boasts of the wonderful support staff who has served their respective countries in cricket.

“We wanted a team that would be founded with the same values that guided Madiba,” an excited Sethi said as the Nelson Mandela Bay Stars was launched in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday. “My thanks to the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality for embracing us with such generosity. For us, this team is about being a big part of the Nelson Mandela Bay community and the Eastern Cape for years to come. We want the Nelson Mandela Bay Stars to be the people’s team,” he added.

Coaching staff

Former Proteas wicketkeeper-batsman Mark Boucher has been chosen as the coach of the team. Boucher’s coaching staff will include the current coach of Zimbabwe Heath Streak as the bowling coach and Malibongwe Maketa as the assistant coach. Goolam Rajah will be the team director who has the immense experience of spending 20 years with the South African national team.

Makhaya Ntini, the former Proteas fast bowler, will be the ambassador of the team alongwith the West Indies legend Clive Lloyd. Rohan Gavaskar, a former Indian cricketer, will work as the team’s media director and spokesperson.

The mayor of the Nelson Mandela Bay Stars believed that the team had chosen a great management team to lead a side that would bear the name of Madiba. “This is exactly what we wanted to see — our T20GL franchise owners teaming with the local municipalities and building affinity with the local communities,” Haroon Lorgat expressed his happiness over the development between the franchise and local municipalities.