The honourable minister of sport and recreation, Mr Fikile Mbalula, gave praise to Proteas captain Graeme Smith ahead of the first Sunfoil Test match against Pakistan starting at Bidvest Wanderers on Friday, an occasion which will see him achieve his 100th cap as captain.
The minister, who attended the pre-match press conference in Sandton on Thursday, lauded Smith for his “courage” over the years, and the inspirational role he plays for the South African public.
“It’s a great day and special occasion for Graeme the captain of our national side for his exceptional display of talent and sense of duty,” he said. “His patriotism is in a league of its own, as young as he is, he has come of age to be what he is today.
Proteas coach Gary Kirsten led the tributes from team management with the former opening batsmen having played under Smith in the final lap of his career.
“When he came into the team I saw that he had leadership potential,” Kirsten said. “He relished the idea of being captain of South Africa, when a lot of people didn’t because of the burden the job comes with.
“I played 14 Tests under him and even though he was young, I felt he had a lot to offer but that was obviously going to take time, which is sometimes the case with leadership.
“For me, as a former opening batsman, his role has been underpinned by his success as a batsman, to average close to fifty and to score 26 Test hundreds is an unbelievable achievement, we often forget the role he plays with the bat upfront.”
