Thando Ntini, son of the legendary South African pacer Makhaya Ntini, recently shed light on the racial challenges his father faced during his illustrious cricket career in the early 2000s. Makhaya Ntini, a towering figure in cricket with 390 Test and 266 ODI wickets, shared the field with icons like Graeme Smith, Shaun Pollock, Jacques Kallis, and Mark Boucher. Despite his remarkable achievements, Makhaya's journey was tainted by the struggle for acknowledgment and respect, being the first black Test cricketer for South Africa.
In a revealing discussion on "The Load Shed" podcast, Thando Ntini opened up about the personal toll these experiences took on his father. He disclosed that Makhaya is often reticent to discuss his tenure with the South African Men's cricket team, hinting at the underlying racial tensions he endured. This included instances of exclusion and isolation within the team, casting a shadow on his professional relationships and team dynamics.
"He was constantly fighting for his life in that team, every day. Being the only (black) guy there, it sucks to hear [when he says] he can how many times he was invited to a dinner with the gents…..Even though he was good enough," Thando said.
Thando himself has faced racism, recounting an incident that almost barred him from participating in an Under-19 camp, signaling the persistence of racial issues within the cricketing fraternity.
Makhaya Ntini spills the beans on racism
The discourse around racial discrimination in South African cricket was reignited in 2020 when Makhaya Ntini shared his poignant narrative of isolation, following Lungi Ngidi's appeal to the cricket community to stand against racial inequality. Makhaya's vivid descriptions of feeling sidelined by teammates, not being included in dinners, and the overall lack of solidarity, highlighted the personal and systemic racism that marred his career.
"I was forever lonely at the time," Makhaya Ntini had said in an interview with ''South African Broadcasting Corporation''.
"Nobody knocked on my door to go for dinner. Teammates used to make plans right in front of me, skipping me out. When walking into the breakfast room, nobody came to sit with me.
"We wear the same uniform and sing the same national anthem, but I had to overcome (the isolation).
"I used to see the driver of the team bus, give him my bag, and then I would run to the cricket ground. I did the same thing on the way back, I just ran back instead," he added.
These revelations underscore the critical need for addressing racial disparities in sports, advocating for a more inclusive and respectful environment for athletes of all backgrounds.
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