As the 2023/24 cricket season looms, the North West Dragons have unveiled a striking new kit and announced an exciting, long-term collaboration with the North-West University (NWU). The official agreement was sealed on Thursday, September 7, at the Garden Willows Hotel in a momentous occasion for both organizations.
Present at the ceremony were critical figures from North West Cricket, including President Tebogo Motlhabane and CEO Ismail Minty, who presented NWU's Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bismark Tyobeka, with a Special Team shirt to commemorate the partnership. This collaboration arrives at an opportune moment for North West Cricket as the Dragons gear up for their third season in Division 1.
The team is poised for success with new captains and a talented, ambitious squad. "We want to thank NWU for coming on board this season. The Dragons are a fresh side this season with young blood and several experienced players," remarked NW Cricket President Tebogo Motlhabane. Prof. Tyobeka expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, highlighting that it only required a little persuasion to join forces with North West Cricket.
"With our brands combined, we can elevate North West to the next level. We don't associate ourselves with mediocrity; we believe this relationship will be successful and fruitful. This partnership has the potential to grow, and one of the challenges will be to unearth cricketing talent across the entire province," he added.
This partnership also opens doors to invest in North Cricket at various levels, from youth development to the senior Dragons. Ismail Minty, NW Cricket CEO, noted the longstanding collaboration with NWU, which began many years ago with the HPI and NWU Business School supporting their endeavours. He emphasized that this would be a long-term partnership where players or school kids would have opportunities to pursue higher education while cricketers from NWU would have the chance to represent the Dragons.
The NW Dragons are set to kick off their season with the CSA One Day Cup on Saturday, September 16, hosting Western Province at the J.B. Marks Oval at 13:00. This partnership between North West Cricket and NWU promises a bright future for cricket in the North West province, marking a significant step toward excellence and development in the sport.
