Latest news with #JohanMuller
News18
27-05-2025
- Sport
- News18
Namibia To Host South Africa For First-Ever T20I In Windhoek On October 11
Last Updated: Namibia to host South Africa for their first-ever T20I on Oct 11 at Windhoek's new FNB Cricket Ground. Namibia will host South Africa's men's team for a historic T20 International on October 11. The match, to be played in Windhoek, will also officially inaugurate the FNB Namibia Cricket Ground (FNB NCG) — the country's newest and most advanced cricket facility. This will be the first-ever international match between the Namibian Eagles and the South African Proteas and promises to be a celebration of sport and continental unity. Under construction since 2021, the FNB NCG will serve as the home of the national high-performance centre and will host matches during the 2026 ICC Under-19 Men's World Cup and the 2027 ICC Men's ODI World Cup, where Namibia will co-host alongside Zimbabwe and South Africa. By the time the historic T20I against South Africa is played in October, Namibia will also have competed in the Africa T20 World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, aiming for a spot in the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Notably, Namibia has featured in the last three T20 World Cups, including a famous win over Sri Lanka in 2022. Cricket Namibia CEO Johan Muller described the upcoming match and stadium opening as a dream come true. 'The FNB NCG has been four years in the making, and we're thrilled to finally unveil it on such a grand stage. Playing against our neighbours, one of the world's leading cricket nations, makes the occasion even more special," he said. Muller also extended his gratitude to Cricket South Africa (CSA) and its CEO, Pholetsi Moseki, for their support in bringing this fixture to life. Moseki responded in kind, praising Namibia's recent progress on the field and reaffirming CSA's commitment to fostering the growth of cricket across the continent. 'We're proud to be part of this historic moment," Moseki said. 'This match is more than just a game — it's a celebration of African cricket's rising strength and a preview of what's to come as we prepare to co-host the 2027 ICC Men's World Cup." (with IANS Inputs) First Published: May 27, 2025, 18:45 IST
Int'l Cricket Council
27-05-2025
- Business
- Int'l Cricket Council
Namibia to host South Africa for a historic T20I
Cricket Namibia's CEO Johan Muller is looking forward to partner with CSA to host the ICC Men's World Cup in 2027. 'This truly is a memorable occasion. The new FNB NCG has been a dream for the last four years and has finally materialized," Muller stated. 'A match against our neighbours, and one of the top cricketing countries in the world, is the perfect way to open this world class facility.' Cricket South Africa's CEO Pholetsi Moseki was proud to be a part of the official inauguration of the new cricket ground that will co-host the marquee tournament in 2027. 'We are honoured to be part of this historic occasion. Namibia are a competitive side, and this fixture reflects the growing strength of cricket on the continent.' FNB NCG hosted its first full fixture earlier this year, between the home side and Canada, which ended up being a last-ball thriller.
News24
27-05-2025
- General
- News24
Proteas to play Namibia in first-ever cricket encounter
Namibia and South Africa will face off in a historic one-off T20I cricket match on 11 October at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek. The match will serve as the official opening of Namibia's new cricket venue, which will host games during the 2026 U19 Cricket World Cup and the 2027 50-over Cricket World Cup. Cricket bosses Pholetsi Moseki and Johan Muller view this event as a milestone for African cricket and a significant step in strengthening the sport on the continent. For more cricket news, visit our dedicated section. South Africa will play Namibia in an international cricket match for the first time later this year. The historic one-off T20I clash between the Namibia Eagles and the Proteas Men will take place at the Namibia Cricket Ground (NCG) in Windhoek on 11 October. The match will serve as the official opening of Namibia's new home of cricket. The venue will host games during the 2026 ICC U19 Cricket World Cup and the 50-over Cricket World Cup in 2027. 'We are honoured to be part of this historic occasion. Namibia are a competitive side, and this fixture reflects the growing strength of cricket on the continent,' CSA CEO Pholetsi Moseki said in a statement. 'As a fellow African cricketing nation and the host of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027, we are proud to support the official opening of this new cricket ground which will be one of the host venues of the tournament.' Cricket Namibia CEO, Johan Muller, added: 'This truly is a memorable occasion. The new NCG has been a dream for the last four years and has finally materialised. A match against our neighbours, and one of the top cricketing countries in the world, is the perfect way to open this world class facility. 'I want to thank CSA and specifically their CEO, Pholetsi Moseki, for agreeing to this match. We look forward to hosting the Proteas Men's team and to partner with CSA in hosting the ICC Men's World Cup in 2027.'
Int'l Cricket Council
01-03-2025
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Namibia welcome the world as stadium build nears completion
It's a place where its hosts refuse you going home hungry, and now Namibia is readying to showcase a feast for cricket by unveiling a state-of-the-art ground in Windhoek that will stand to shine for the world at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027. The FNB Namibia Cricket Ground is set for completion in October, a testament to Namibia's growing stature in the game as a high-achieving nation on the field, but also the embodiment of tireless work and passion off the field. Having hosted a number of ICC pathway events, Namibia is now gearing up to host the Cricket World Cup alongside co-hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe. For Cricket Namibia, it's a project several years in the making, and in saving. Their growth in the game has brought increased public exposure and commercial opportunities, assisting with the US $4M investment into the stadium's development. For Johan Muller, CEO of Cricket Namibia, it's an achievement only made possible from overachieving on multiple fronts. 'The journey to developing Namibia's new international cricket stadium has been a meticulously planned process, aligning with our vision of positioning the country as a top-tier Associate Member," said Muller. 'Having a world-class cricket venue is a milestone that solidifies Namibia's status as a leading Associate Member. It signifies our commitment to long-term cricketing excellence, not only in on-field performance but in administrative and infrastructural development. 'This stadium will serve as a beacon for cricket in Africa, ensuring Namibia remains a host nation for top-tier ICC events and a key player in global cricket discussions.' A virtual representation of the FNB Namibia Cricket Ground /// Cricket Namibia Situated in the south of the capital city of Windhoek, the ground will hold a capacity of just under 8,000. The venue will also house Namibia's High Performance Centre, with an indoor centre and gym to prime the country's aspiring and elite players who meet for camps at various times across the year. Namibian men's skipper Gerhard Erasmus - the ICC Men's Associate Cricketer of the Year 2024 - can't wait to represent his nation at a premier ground. 'It's been such a journey, especially with the group of players and staff we've had now since 2019, and the field really feels like a flagpole in the ground and a legacy that maybe this group has created and left for cricket in Namibia,' Erasmus said. 'There's obviously plenty of people from the past to thank and plenty of those still work in and amongst Cricket Namibia. 'It just feels like such a dangling pot of gold that has come at the end of all the hard work, so in that sense, it's a very iconic and special sort of physical manifestation that has happened over the last year for us to build the stadium.' The reality of the ground is almost beyond Erasmus' comprehension. Having grown up in the Cricket Namibia family, watching the work of his father Francois within the governing body, few are better placed to explain the magnitude of what has been done in such a short space of time. 'I don't think I ever thought about it being a possibility - no,' Erasmus said, when asked if he could imagine an exclusive ground for cricket in the country. 'I think growing up, I was always at the Wanderers field (in Windhoek) and that has been the home of cricket forever because the training facilities are there and I've only really known that ever as the home. 'It's always been a multipurpose club and it's always probably not been the ideal setting to call your home there because there's so many other members of a club and so many other sports that share the same facilities. If you want to be truly professional and highly-regarded as one of the best sports in the country, you need your own home. 'This is why it makes it so special.' On the corporate side, the ground will feature a restaurant and a hospitality wing, helping to create rewarding match experiences for those visiting from near and afar, and designated work spaces to align with ICC requirements to host global tournaments. Muller wants to leave a lasting impression on those travelling to Namibia to return home with lifelong memories. 'Hosting a senior ICC World Cup is an immense source of national pride. It reflects Namibia's growing influence in international cricket and validates years of hard work by players, administrators, and fans. 'Namibia is ready to welcome you with open arms. Our country is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, vibrant culture, and warm hospitality. 'Beyond the thrilling cricket action, visitors can explore Namibia's diverse attractions, from the dunes of Sossusvlei to the wildlife of Etosha National Park. 'Namibia promises a World Cup experience like no other.' Inside the boundary rope the ground is ready to go, and will get its first taste of international cricket in March with Erasmus' side hosting The Netherlands and Canada in a T20I tri-series to be played out after their League 2 ODI leg. For the skipper, it's a chance to move even further in the game, leaving a mark for future generations to improve upon. 'It's a rebirth of something new, so that in itself is always exciting and that's what you want to do in cricket as a cricket nation. You want to continue building, you know when it becomes stagnant you want to inspire future generations, so things like this need to happen. 'It would sort of be perhaps the true homecoming for a lot of Namibian cricket folk that have worked forever in Cricket Namibia, basically given their lives for the country's cricket.' Gerhard Erasmus wins Men's Associate Cricketer of the Year | ICC Awards 2024 Not given the luxury of an automatic spot at Cricket World Cup 2027, qualification for the World Cup meanwhile will be an uphill task for the Eagles, currently outside a top four spot in League 2, which would move them to the Cricket World Cup Qualifier. There is a path through a Play-off should they not finish in the top half of the eight-team competition, though Erasmus acknowledges play needs to improve on the field if they are to feature at the tournament on home soil. 'The qualification runs are obviously tough, where there are fewer teams in the 50-over World Cup, but it would definitely be one of the most special things in your career to play on a world stage event in front of your people. 'It feels like we've been going through a little bit of a rebuilding phase for the last sort of 18 months, maybe even two years. 'I think the team is younger than it was in the first four years of this journey, and there's obviously going to always be speed bumps along the way with that.' The ground is set to also play host to part of the next ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup, a tournament co-hosted with Zimbabwe.
