A team of veteran cricketers, the Frontier Vets Cricket Club (aka Rhinos), who hail from Port Alfred, Makhanda, Cradock, Graaff-Reinet and Gqeberha, have won the Eastern Province Veterans Cricket league and will represent the region at the club championship at Centurion, Gauteng, in September.
The Frontier Vets bagged the highly competitive EP veterans league cricket competition after just missing out on silverware as runners-up the previous season, now head to the home of Titans cricket in Pretoria where the club championships will be decided.
However, team member Chris Japp of Cuylerville CC, says though they are champing at the bit to represent the province at the club championships from September 24-27, the costs involved in honouring the trip are proving to be a headache.
“We are self-funding the trip but there are other excess costs that make it too huge a cost factor.”
“We decided not to drive up because some of us have to be back at work soon after the tournament ends, so are rather flying out to Pretoria. We have booked our flight but we are needing to cover costs for accommodation, meals, tournament fees and kit.”
Each member is having to fork out a minimum of R10,000 for the trip and Japp says it would be appreciated if anyone would like to assist the club in the build-up to the tournament.
“We have received some assistance that covers our caps and smaller items, but we are still short of much-needed funds for all the extras,” said Japp.
Japp said the PE Veterans League comprised 10 teams who competed for the league title and was a very competitive league in the 40-plus age category.
“There are former well-known and talented cricketers playing in the veterans league … we had former Test player Mfuneko Ngam playing for us when he was not commentating for SuperSport, and former EP player Brent Kops was also in our team.”
“We have managed to get a good discount on accommodation from Proteas one-day player Rassie van Der Dussen’s bed and breakfast establishment in Pretoria, so that has helped,” he added.
“There are still many top cricketers playing in their various veterans leagues and the club championships will be tough as we are playing six T20 matches in four days, but hopefully a practice outing we have organised in Graaf-Reinet will help us in the build up to the tournament.
Japp who plays 2nd team cricket for Cuylerville, said the club championships was a prestigious tournament as Cricket SA was placing importance on the veterans league.
“It is also an opportunity for us to get a feel of the famous Centurion ground which is home to the Titans and to build friendships and to network with other players.”
If anyone would like to sponsor or contribute in any way to the Frontier Vets trip to Centurion please e-mail Japp on Jappsta15@gmail.com
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This article was first published in Talk of the Town, July 17, 2025. The newspaper serving the communities of Ndlambe and the Sunshine Coast, with a weekly wrap of Makhanda news, is available at stores from early on Thursdays.
