It's Lord Temba now, Gayton McKenzie tells Proteas’ WTC critics
HIGH PRAISE Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie passionately defended Proteas captain Temba Bavuma and praised his leadership following South Africa’s World Test Championship victory over Australia, dismissing criticism and highlighting Bavuma’s achievements. Picture: Michael Sherman/IOL
Image: Michael Sherman/IOL
Sports minister Gayton McKenzie did not hold back in his praise of Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma following his side’s victory in the World Test Championship (WTC) over the weekend.
McKenzie was speaking at the Proteas press conference in Johannesburg to welcome the team back to South Africa.
South Africa clinched the WTC final at Lord’s on Saturday, beating Australia by five wickets at the home of cricket.
Bavuma formed part of the match-winning partnership with Aiden Markram in the fourth innings as the Proteas emerged emphatic winners. Markram scored a sensational 136 and Bavuma made an invaluable 66 batting with an injured hamstring at the other end as the pair shared a pivotal 147-run stand for the third wicket in pursuit of 282 for victory.
South Africa’s WTC Journey: Criticism and Presidential Invitation
South Africa had been criticised during this WTC two-year cycle for not playing Australia or England on their way to the final.
“We quite frankly don’t give a damn what other countries are saying. You know, they can say what they like. These are the champions. Show us your mace,” said McKenzie.
The praise continued to flow for Bavuma, as McKenzie inferred he had achieved more than legends like Graeme Smith who is regarded by some distance as South Africa’s greatest ever skipper.
“In the history of cricket, we’ve never had such a great cricket captain. Respectful to the others, we love them. But this is the greatest cricket captain, South Africa’s ever had. And it’s no longer Temba. It’s now Lord Temba.”
Though he did not confirm the Proteas players and staff would be bonuses from the SA government, he extended an invitation for a meeting with the side.
“On behalf of the president of the country, who has told me that to extend a personal invite, that you would like to have dinner with yourself, and President Ramaphosa, the cabinet that he leads, we are truly proud.”
McKenzie Defends Bavuma Amidst Criticism and Praises His Leadership
As for the critics of Bavuma, McKenzie remained defiant in the wake of the Proteas triumph.
“You know, when you win, people forget what he said about you when you were not winning. There was a lot of unfair criticism against our captain. He was criticised by a person that doesn’t even know the game of cricket.
“He used to write stuff, and what I like, he started deleting those tweets so fast. Faster than our fastest bowler. I want to apologise on behalf of every dumb critic in South Africa. And I want to say to you Temba, this country is truly rich because you are a citizen of this country. You are a fantastic captain.”
With the recent meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ramaphosa, the issue of the EFF singing the struggle song ‘Kill the Boer’ came up. McKenzie said there were better things to focus on now.
“I saw a four-year-old white boy today singing that song, with your name [Temba]. I looked at that, and I realised that this is who we are - South Africa.
“That boy was singing out of his chest. And that’s what the media should concentrate on. Not people talking about kill the Boer.”