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| Makhaya Ntini |
Cape Town: In less than a week, January 9 to be precise, Makhaya Ntini will play his last match — a T20 International, against India — for South Africa.
On Monday afternoon, the 33-year-old Ntini (the first Black African to represent South Africa in cricket) spoke to The Telegraph at Newlands, after a promotional appearance for KFC.
Ntini, who made his debut in the 1997-98 season, is going to sign off with a very impressive haul: 390 wickets in 101 Tests and 266 from 173 ODIs.
The following are excerpts from the one-on-one
Whether he’s decided to quit at the right time...
(Laughs) One never knows... Could be the right time, may not be the right time... Fact is that the decision has been made.
Having been such an inspirational figure, particularly for the Blacks...
I think I had a role to play, on and off the field, and I’ve been doing my bit.
Legacy...
It’s for you to judge.
Fans having been desperate to reach out to him at the lunch break...
Yeah, I saw that... They wanted to touch me... But they needn’t miss me, for Dale Steyn’s there... He has the ability to get the crowd behind him.
What goes into the making of a fast bowler...
Ability... In my view, you’ve got to be born a fast bowler.
Early influences...
Somebody like Richard Pybus (a former coach of Pakistan). I’m grateful to all who understood me and encouraged me, a village boy.
On Lonwabo Tsotsobe...
He’s good, definitely has a future.
Controversy over the ‘quota’ system...
I shouldn’t be answering this... The reality today is that Tsotsobe is the only emerging Black in the current Test team... More needs to be done. Having said that, (Dr) Ali Bacher in the past and Gerald Majola in the present times, have opened doors.
Thoughts on the forthcoming World Cup...
I’d stick my neck out and pick South Africa as one of the favourites.
Whether playing in the subcontinent could work to South Africa’s disadvantage...
No, for the simple reason that most of our players have, in recent years, gone on tours to the region... It’s no longer unfamiliar territory.
Finally, on how he’ll be keeping himself busy after January 9...
(Smiles) I’ll try and get more and more Black Africans to play cricket... I’ll continue promoting KFC’s Mini Cricket, which attracts so many kids... My friend, there’s much work to do.
