Ngazibini Sigwili’s story is one filled with many ups and downs. But most importantly, this is a story that will enlighten and educate all of us about what happens when we quit on our cricketers. Ongama Gcwabe tells his story.
Sigwili is a name that will ring a bell to many cricket lovers in the country. Perhaps the only question that is often asked is: “What happened to Ngazi?”
Many thought he would go on to play for the Proteas men’s team like many of his South Africa under 19 teammates. That didn’t happen. Or should I say, it hasn’t happened, yet
Ngazi was an integral member of the SA U19 team that won the World Cup in 2014. As an 18-year-old at the time, he was earmarked as one of the country’s top talents. He was a special talent coming from East London who bowled quick and was unique in that he was a left-arm fast bowler.
As sudden as his rise was, he evaporated into the wilderness like many talented cricketers that we never hear about from the U19 system.
“I played the blame game for way too long and lost track of who I was,” Sigwili told Cricket Fanatics Magazine.
“I’ve gone past the phase where I blame other people and the systems. It was two years ago when I lost my mother where everything just hit me. It was during that time that I realised that I had to take responsibility for where the trajectory of my career has gone.”
Sigwili made his first-class debut in an Eastern Province vs Gauteng 3-Day match in October 2014. His last first-class match was in February 2017. It has been five years since we’ve heard or seen the pace ace we all thought was destined for greater things in professional cricket.
“I was frustrated because I felt like I had done the work but it didn’t seem like there was a plan for my future. I didn’t see any results at the time,” explained Sigwili.
“This is right after the 2014 U19 World Cup. I didn’t get any clear direction of how I fit in within the franchise system at the Warriors and that was the frustrating part about it.”
The frustrations led him to a dark place in which he was surrounded by the wrong people. The responsible Hudson Park High School boy quickly changed into an unreliable young man.
He began to indulge in behaviour that many wouldn’t have associated with him. Matters got worse as he found himself deep in alcohol abuse and things didn’t improve from that point.
“Even though I wasn’t wrong in being frustrated by how my career was influenced or managed, I now see that I could’ve handled everything better than I did,” added Sigwili.
“I reached a point where I was honest with myself that I f*cked up with my fitness. I f*cked up with my focus. I found myself surrounded by the wrong crowd instead of my teammates.”
Professional sport is a brutal industry to be making mistakes in. Especially now that we’re in the digital age- fans and sponsors are quick to move on and find a new and exciting talent to talk about. This is where I think we go wrong.
Sportsmen are human beings. They make mistakes like everyone else and they deserve to be heard.
“I had to acknowledge that I was at the centre of the problem. That’s where I feel like the journey of making a comeback to the sport I love started,” said Ngazi.
The 26-year-old is now based in Gqeberha after Gerald Majola’s Jendamark United team roped him in last year November.
Sigwili is now playing Premier League cricket with the hope that he will get back to the level he once was at and go beyond it.
“I’m going to keep working on myself and keep backing myself. Obviously, I want to win trophies for United and perform for the team. I have ambitions of penetrating the Colts side and the Warriors side but I want to stay in the moment and focus on winning matches for United and the rest will take care of itself.”
Writer’s Message:
It’s easy to move on from a cricketer that is going through a tough time in his life/career than it is to stick with him and help him navigate his way back to the right path. I hope this story will influence someone to give these players the support they need instead of quitting on them.
Photo: CSA
