by Abhai SawkarHigher-level cricket isn’t always straightforward and hunky-dory - maintaining consistency and pushing for further success, most of the time, is easier said than done. Grant Mokoena’s eventful career for multiple franchise teams tells a story of prolonged struggles without much dividends. The 33-year-old has experienced a wide spectrum of ups and downs, but fortunately, to this day, his unfettered confidence level has remained mostly intact. Hailing from Johannesburg’s largest township, Mokoena had a promising beginning. The early progress paved the way for him to earn a spot in the Proteas’ Under-19 squad for the 2006 World Cup. “I started playing cricket at primary school in Soweto called Isaacson. I started mini cricket at the age of 7 and there are quite a few great memories. I went to Phafogang Secondary School and then for high school, I was in the Eastern Cape and went to Queens College. My favorite highlight would be beating St. John's Junior, getting the winning runs and scoring an unbeaten 80.” After a solid start with Gauteng, Mokoena would link up with the Lions team for the first time. It was still early, and he had his work cut out to frequently force his way into the mix and become a regular feature. Game time was sparse, and he soon was back in search of franchise opportunities elsewhere. Since then, he’s played for the Titans and more recently, he’s been part of the Knights setup. “When I first played for the Lions, I was young and was on the fringes but the Titans soon called me in to do a job immediately and then I joined the Knights as a more experienced player. The difference in all the teams is the approach to practice and the changeroom talk. During my time with the Lions, I never felt I was going to be a part of it even if I wanted to, because there was no space and I didn’t exactly get a whole lot of backing. The other 2 teams gave me a different feeling and sense of belief and belonging therefore it was easier or more welcoming. I got there at the right time with a lot of Proteas players and people who understood the importance of each player.” Mokoena has batted in various positions in the order, from opening to No. 7, but he feels more comfortable in the middle order. The longer format is where he’s done relatively better, but the transition from provincial to franchise level has consistently posed challenges. But more importantly, he hasn’t given up on anything. “I'm a middle order batter and I have always enjoyed batting at number 4, which I feel is the most difficult position in any line up. I’ve done consistently well coming in at 2 down. You’re either absorbing the pressure because a couple of quick wickets fell early or taking the game away because your team got off to a strong start. I love playing spin and when you bat in the middle you’re bound to face a lot of spin. I have scored plenty of runs at number 4 at semi-pro level but at franchise level they needed me to open and I filled up the boots. Since then I have learned to enjoy the position.” “I took up the opening role because it was an opportunity and for someone my age batting in the middle would be a great deal because I would be able to control the game to a better extent.” It isn’t always easy to open up about frustrating experiences, but Mokoena is looking to put the troubles from the past behind him and shift the focus on what he can do better going forward. Initially he tried various approaches and that ended up compromising his technique, and a more simplified approach is something he’s working towards at this point. “Most challenges were mostly off the field: the fact that I had to travel for hours to get to games and practice was pretty daunting and extremely difficult because come day 3 and day 4, my body was a little tired with less sleep because I got home late and had to get up early. The other issue was when I was struggling to score runs. I used to do a lot of different things and as a result of that, I ended up creating more unsolved problems rather than solutions but now I have a better understanding when I go through that. I like to concentrate on my strengths because it can take one shot to get back into the swing of things, at the end of the day I just want to make sure I'm ready for it.” Mokoena enjoys being the impact player and clearing the boundaries frequently - in fact he’s hit over 100 sixes in first-class cricket. However, he’s been having a yearn to be more consistent and often play a more defining role - he’s played almost 100 50-over games and for a specialist batsman, an average below 20 plus a strike rate in the low-70s is suggestive of remedial work required. Not having a clear-cut plan and a shaky rapport with the coach severely hampered his progress last season. “I'm naturally a big hitter and I like to score mostly in boundaries but when I started I wasn't given the right message and the transition from red to white ball cricket. And when I started in the middle, I did a little bit better but I haven't really found a coach that will back me to bat in one position and allow me to be me on the field. I’ve got more experience now so I’ll be working on increasing my scoring options and getting more not outs at a higher strike rate. Last season was my worst season in my whole career because my coach and I had a misunderstanding but I tried to work on it and I batted for a very long but didn't score the runs I desired. Better communication with the coach and a clear message is the plan.” At 32, Mokoena’s expected to play his best cricket, and with more youngsters joining the Knights, there will be stiffer competition to face. Considering his vast amount of experience in the franchise scene, an MSL gig could potentially help him sort things out with his technique. “I aim to be the fittest in the team, I don’t know whether or not I’ll be the fastest since the young ones are extremely quick. It’ll be nice to have a few 4-day not outs with 3 figures on my name and make sure I score the winning runs in the Momentum Cup. Also I definitely want to play in the MSL this year because I know I can make a difference and I can learn a lot. Plus that could also help with my confidence going into the remainder of the season.” “I still aspire to represent South Africa. And batting in the middle would give me a better opportunity to achieve that. More importantly, I’m a team player: the team always matters first for me.” With the return of cricket confirmed to happen in a few days and the lockdown restrictions gradually beginning to ease up, it’s brought about some solace. For Mokoena, it’s a resumption of the usual fitness routine. “In the beginning it was extremely difficult because of no training facilities and I'm an outdoor person, so staying indoors for so long wasn't easy. Fortunately I managed to get some simple exercise in, and that's a positive side of the lockdown but as the levels went down things got easier and I can finally do my regular long distance running.” Crests and troughs are all part of life, and in the world of sports, competition is always burning brightly. Keeping your head above the water and surging ahead are two key traits of those that are more prepared. However, Mokoena’s experiences expose a harsh truth: no matter how hard you work and how much you seek guidance to correct your shortcomings, nothing’s guaranteed. His humble attitude, positivity, and perseverance have been stronger than ever, and a fruitful season ahead would provide the much-needed catalyst.
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AuthorsAkseli Pitkänen Archives
September 2020
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