South Western Districts Cricket, on Tuesday, 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 new head coach for the upcoming season.
The significant change to the squad is visible in the bowling department with exciting new blood that has been recruited to bolster performances. 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 U/19 and Warriors spin-bowler, Liam Alder, as replacement for Kaber. They also raised some eyebrows in obtaining the services of the 2024 SA Schools and SA U/19 captain and wicket keeper/batsman, Beni Hansen, from Western Province.
Other new recruits in the bowling department are Banele Cele (from the Dolphins), Mondle Khumalo (former SA U/19 player from the Tuskers) and Zack Momberg, who like Alder matriculated at King Edward VII in Johannesburg, from the Lions.
Good news is that they maintained the services of the middle order batsman, 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. The aggressive wicket keeper/batsman, Luke Beaufort, has also put his name on the dotted line for next 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 their 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, and 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 with 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.
The contracted squad is:
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, George van Heerden,
HIGH-PERFORMANCE CONTRACTS
Tyrece Karelse, Sintu Majiza, Liyabona Malife and Heath Richards
