The Mzansi Super League is the who’s who of international Twenty20 cricket, with superstars from other countries as well as our very own homegrown and up-and-coming stars of the future all competing against each other.
Johannesburg, South Africa – South Africa proves time and time again that it is a nation of heroes, a team full of talent working together to inspire others.
We have a deep sporting culture, from cricket to soccer, rugby to hockey, athletics to tennis, and much, much more.
Our nation’s first democratically elected president, the world-revered Nelson Mandela, famously said: “Sport has the power to change the world; it has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite like little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there only was despair.”
The World Champion Springboks have just concluded their trophy tour and the outpouring of support and love is palpable, the hope they have inspired is immeasurable. This invisible thread of togetherness that binds us is electric, and it exists in all our sports codes.
Cricket has a long history in South Africa, spanning more than a hundred years. It wasn’t just loved by the privileged few in our dark past – cricket has a long, rich heritage in African communities. Since unification, the sport has been a force to bind us as a nation, and this energy could be felt at the opening game of the 2019 Mzansi Super League, at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on 8 November, where Cape Town Blitz were just too good for Jozi Stars.
“It was one of those occasions where obviously the score mattered, but where everyone felt like a winner. It reminded me why I, like many millions of other South Africans, don’t just like cricket, we love it!
Whether it’s a match in Paarl’s Boland Park stadium, which is nestled in the Cape Winelands with the iconic Pearl mountains as the scenic backdrop, or Kingsmead Stadium in the heart of Durban, we South Africans have so many iconic venues to celebrate our sporting heroes, as well as our beautiful and diverse country.”
The Mzansi Super League is the who’s who of international Twenty20 cricket, with superstars from other countries as well as our very own homegrown and up-and-coming stars of the future all competing against each other. Twenty20 cricket means there’s literally non-stop action and provides the perfect opportunity to come together as a nation and maintain the magic of South African sport.
The 2019 Mzansi Super League, or the very cool name MSL 2.0, is the second time the tournament is happening, having been founded by Cricket South Africa last year.
The flagship tournament runs for five weeks and consists of six franchise teams representing different South African cities. The names are as exciting as the extravaganza itself! Jozi Stars, Tshwane Spartans, Durban Heat, Nelson Mandela Giants, Paarl Rocks and Cape Town Blitz.
Will Jozi Stars defend their title or will there be a new champion when the final is played on 16 December? I encourage you to get to the stadiums and experience the gees: there’s matches in Johannesburg, Centurion, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Paarl.
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