DP World Lions Ladies are making ready for a landmark weekend of ladies’s cricket, with captain Raisibe Ntozakhe main the Pro20 facet into the Hollywoodbets Pro20 Closing in opposition to WSB Western Province Ladies on Friday, 13 March, earlier than Kgomotso Rapoo’s reigning Pro50 champions face the identical opponents within the Pro50 Closing on Sunday, 15 March, 2026, each finals to be determined at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium in Durban this weekend.
Ntozakhe has guided a assured Pro20 group to the ultimate, the place they are going to face reigning champions, Western Province, with each the Johannesburg and Cape City groups having booked their finals berths previous to the conclusion of the home-and-away section of the match.
The ultimate can be a rematch with some extent to show for the Lions, as Western Province are the one facet to have overwhelmed Ntozakhe’s group within the Pro20 this season, making Sunday’s decider a compelling contest between the 2 standout groups of the competitors.
The short-format captain, Ntozakhe, led the group for the primary time this season and spoke with satisfaction about what her group has achieved this season.
“It’s a nice honour to have led the group for the primary time this season, and it makes me beam with pleasure that our onerous work has introduced us to the ultimate. I couldn’t be prouder of each certainly one of them for his or her consistency, onerous work, and dedication to the craft.”
DP World Lions Ladies Pro20 Captain, Raisibe Ntozakhe
With the large sport being days away, Ntozakhe says her group will probably be specializing in making even the smallest enchancment as they give the impression of being to convey residence the title. “The largest factor for me was to stay humble and to keep up consistency in all features of our abilities.
“My mantra is to goal to be 1% higher within the subsequent sport than we had been within the earlier one. We’ve got been attempting to be taught as a lot as we are able to, to enhance our sport.”
Rapoo and her Pro50 group tackle the identical opponents from the Western Cape on the similar venue on Sunday, 15 March. For her and her 50-over costs, issues are a bit totally different coming in as reigning champions, trying to make sure that the trophy stays of their cupboard.
Rapoo says that being champions means their excessive requirements of efficiency have to proceed, as they give the impression of being to carry on to the title. “I consider successful the Pro50 competitors created greater expectations, consideration, and motivation.”
“Profitable the earlier season gave us the assumption that our system works. Being champions pushes us gamers to keep up the usual; nevertheless, there are challenges like further stress, opponents learning you extra rigorously, and never being complacent. Many groups usually battle to defend the title, however we’re hopeful that we will be the primary group to retain it.”
DP World Lions Ladies Pro50 Captain, Kgomotso Rapoo
“Our principal focus in preparation for the finals has been staying in keeping with the issues that bought us right here. We’ve got labored onerous in our sport plans, sharpening our abilities in coaching and ensuring everyone seems to be mentally prepared for the stress of the finals. We’ve got additionally frolicked analysing their strengths and the place we are able to put extra stress. On the similar time, the group is targeted on staying calm, trusting one another and executing our plans on the day,” Rapoo mentioned on their preparation.
A captain is the first chief of the group and performs the go-between in relation to gamers and the coach. They’re tasked with motivating the group and guaranteeing their group performs to their optimum as gamers and folks.
Rapoo says management is central to being a captain, as constructing a cohesive unit and an inclusive ambiance. “Each on and off the sphere all through the season, it’s about setting the usual, conserving the gamers motivated, and ensuring everybody is targeted on the group’s objectives.”
“Throughout video games, the captain has to make necessary choices and preserve the group calm beneath stress. Off the sphere, additionally it is about supporting teammates, constructing a robust group surroundings, and ensuring everyone seems to be working collectively to enhance and succeed.
“My job is to information and lead the group with self-discipline and transparency. In the identical breath, I’ve been listening to the group’s enter and suggestions as a result of with out them, I’m no chief. Having a group and administration that backs you always has additionally made my job lots simpler,” as Ntozakhe echoed these sentiments.
The Pro20 and Pro50 competitions have been revolutionary for girls’s cricket in South Africa. For somebody like Ntozakhe, who was launched to the sport in Grade 2 and went on to characterize the Proteas Ladies. She explains that again then, her desires had been restricted, however with the arrival of home cricket, her perspective modified.
“It means lots to me as a result of again within the day, I used to play for the fervour and love for the game, and the dream was to play for The Proteas and that was it. Now that the sport has grown and we’ve got a Professional league, we’re seeing improved ranges of competitiveness and new expertise being showcased on the sphere via this league. It’s actually thrilling to see such a transition within the girls’s cricketing area, and I’m hoping to proceed to witness it evolve.”
“The expansion of home cricket in our nation has come a good distance from simply enjoying for ardour to being knowledgeable cricketer. It’s one thing I didn’t assume would occur, however I’m very grateful to not solely have witnessed however have been part of. Now that it has come to fruition, it’s outstanding and is a step in the precise path.”
She went on to say that including a secondary division can additional develop the sport.
“What I really feel must be executed to additional the expansion is to have knowledgeable league for Division 2, as this can even inspire them to raise and enhance their sport, as we’ve got seen with the Division 1 gamers. We additionally want extra sponsors in order that the expansion continues.”
Rapoo shared that the home competitions imply lots to her as a result of they characterize how far the ladies’s sport has are available South Africa.
“The competitors offers gamers a platform to showcase their abilities and play high-quality cricket. Seeing the expansion of ladies’s cricket and the alternatives now accessible is actually inspiring. Being a part of the competitors like this motivates us to maintain enhancing and likewise to contribute to the continued development of the ladies’s sport in our nation.”
Hollywoodbets Pro20 Closing on Friday, 13 March 2026
18:00: DP World Lions Ladies vs WSB Western Province Ladies
Hollywoodbets Pro50 Closing on Sunday, 15 March 2026
10:00: DP World Lions Ladies vs WSB Western Province Ladies
Fundamental Picture Caption: WSB Western Province Ladies captain Leah Jones (left) and DP World Lions Ladies captain Raisibe Ntozakhe will contest the Hollywoodbets Pro20 Closing with the Lions focusing on the title from reigning champions Western Province at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium in Durban on Friday, 13 March 2026. All Images: CSA Home Leagues
Picture 2 Caption: Lions skipper Kgomotso Rapoo (left) and Leah Jones forward of the Pro50 Closing at Kingsmead, Durban, Sunday, 15 March, 2026.
Picture 3 Caption: Kgomotso Rapoo and the Lions Ladies will probably be intent on securing their continued champions standing on this night’s Pro20 closing.
