OUDTSHOORN NEWS -On Tuesday, SWD Cricket revealed the professional squad for the 2025/26 season.
The Garden Route Badgers had a disappointing 2024/25 season and has appointed Letlotli Sesele as the new head coach for the upcoming season.
The significant change is in the bowling department with exciting new blood that has been recruited. The biggest loss to the squad is the departure of the match-winning wrist spinner, Thomas Kaber, to the Warriors - a division one franchise. Kelly Smuts and Keenan Vieira has retired from cricket.
The Badgers has contracted the former SA U19 and Warriors spin-bowler, Liam Alder, as a replacement for Kaber. They also raised some eyebrows in obtaining the services of the 2024 SA Schools and SA U19 captain and wicketkeeper/batsman, Beni Hansen, from Western Province.
Other new recruits in the bowling department include:
Banele Cele (from the Dolphins),
Mondle Khumalo (former SA U19 player from the Tuskers)
Zack Momberg, (from the Lions) who like Alder, matriculated at King Edward VII in Johannesburg.
The good news is that they retained several key performers:
George van Heerden, who was their top run score the past season across all formats, and who is currently on tour as captain of the SA Emerging team in Bangladesh.
Luke Beaufort, the aggressive wicketkeeper/batsman, has signed for another season.
Pheko Moletsane, who had a very good season in 2024/25 has also been retained.
Top-order batsmen, Yaseen Valli, Ruan Terblanche and Kyle Jacobs, will serve the second year of their two-year contracts with the Badgers.
In his response, the new head coach Lotle Sesele, said, "I am excited with the contracted squad.
"We will look to improve and give a proper account of ourselves and we would like to do so in every competition."
"We have confidence in the squad assembled for the forthcoming season," said SWD CEO Albertus Kennedy.
"We trust to improve on key areas that required strengthening to reach our objectives," Kennedy commented.
Six Gun Grill SWD Contracts for 2025/26
Liam Alder, Luke Beaufort, Banele Cele, Benni Hansen, Kyle Jacobs, Mondli Khumalo, Pheko Moletsane, Zack Momberg, Ruan Terblanche, Yaseen Valli and George van Heerden.
High-performance contracts
Tyrece Karelse, Sintu Majiza, Liyabona Malife and Heath Richards.
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