She was the only girl on her cricket team. Now she’s pitching for change

The cricket ball rips through the air. Confident of her abilities, the learner bats it across the field. Coach Babalwa Zothe cheers. Imparting sporting skills and a winning attitude is how she’s levelling the playing field for young women. “We are not treated equally,” she says. “We don’t get the same sponsors, same attention.” Zothe speaks from personal experience. The first time she stepped on to a pitch, she was the only girl. 

When Zothe was in primary school, cricket was only offered to boys. Captivated by the sport, she put on a kit and joined anyway. Once the Grade 4 pupil had enough practice under her belt, she began recruiting others and led the first girls’ team at her school. Zothe’s love for the game continued to grow over the years. Having represented the Western Province, the 25-year-old now uses her passion to upskill young women on the pitch and in character.

Working with the Gary Kirsten Foundation and Cricket South Africa, Zothe’s expertise ranges from mini-cricket to U-19. In Masiphumelele and Khayelitsha, she’s more than a coach to the girls – she’s a friend. “It gives me so much pride to guide them to success,” Zothe says. With her support, they’re assured of their capabilities and motivated to grab every opportunity that comes their way.