From Lords to Langa: Proteas' Temba Bavuma completes the circle as a world champion

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2 days ago

Proteas Test captain Temba Bavuma holds aloft the ICC mace on the world champions' open-top bus parade through the streets of Langa on Friday. Picture: Henk Kruger Independent Media
Image: Picture: Henk Kruger Independent Media
Like a Cheshire cat that just had its cream, Vuyo Bavuma looked across at his son Temba in the manner that only the proudest of fathers could.
Here they were together at the Langa Sports Complex in Cape Town, where the arduous journey had begun all those years ago, sitting across from hundreds of children chanting 'Temba, Temba Temba' with the ICC's golden mace adorning the table.
The little dreadlocked boy, who had played with grown men in the Cape Town township, which ironically had streets named after Lord's, MCG, Karachi and Kolkata - all cricket citadels that Temba would go on to grace - had returned to his birthplace as a world champion after leading the Proteas' to a sensational World Test Championship final victory over arch-rivals Australia in London last month.
'Yeah, it's basically the completion of the circle,' said Vuyo. 'This is where he started coming into contact with cricket and is now back to thank people and the success that they have achieved.
'It's also to show that if you put your heart into it, you are going to be rewarded. Hopefully, his presence here is going to encourage lots of kids out there to strive for the best as well.'
Proteas captain Temba Bavuma and his dad Vuyo Bavuma at the Langa Sports Complex on Friday. Picture: Henk Kruger Independent Media
Image: Henk Kruger Independent Media
Temba was equally cognisant of the significance of paying homage to "the community who supported me through thick and thin" and the need to bring his Proteas teammates such as Kagiso Rabada, Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Tony de Zorzi, Dane Paterson and Wiaan Mulder along with him to Langa.
'Like my dad said, this is where it started. This is where the seed was planted, we got watered. Just to enjoy the passion and love for the game' Temba said. 'I think like anything, there's obviously struggles. If you're going to go for anything of significance, it's going to be tough.
'If it was easy, I think a lot of people would be doing it. But I think I was fortunate to know I had a support system growing up with both my parents. I think that's a big factor.
'My parents were doing well within their careers. So from an inspirational point of view, from a hero point of view, I didn't have to look too far away from home.
'Obviously now, coming back here and sharing this with the people, seeing all the joy that they have, seeing people who ordinarily wouldn't just come to Langa, I think that's a thing in itself.'
Equally, Temba hoped that the open-top bus parade through the Langa streets would serve as motivation and a reminder to the current youth that they hail from a talent-rich community that not only gave birth to sports stars, but also legendary South African musicians.
'We were never short of heroes. Langa is rich in sport, arts and culture as well,' he said. 'People like Brenda Fassie, Ringo (Madlingozi) they all come from this area.
'I guess we always had people to aspire to be like.'
The Bavuma family has certainly left a legacy in Langa, and it will most likely be carried further by the next generation, particularly after a picture of Temba's son, Lihle, went viral on social media after the toddler, wearing a Baggy Green Proteas' cap, looked up at his father, who was the holding the golden mace in awe, on the Lord's outfield.
'For me, throughout the whole four days, that was probably the best moment of my life,' Temba said. 'He doesn't know what was happening there. He just saw the silver thing with the big ball at its end.
'Obviously, as time goes by, he'll understand the significance. Do I want him to go the cricketing route now? Maybe not … he swings a golf club very well.
'We're happy to deal with that stress. I think as a family, we've had enough of the cricket.'
Proteas captain signs autographs for children in Langa on Friday. Picture: Henk Kruger Independent Media
Image: Henk Kruger Independent Media