Gani’s journey comes full circle with Tuskers U13 B coaching role

For Sohail Gani, cricket has been part of his life for as long as he can remember — even before he was born. His journey began around the time of the 1992 Cricket World Cup, when his mother was expecting him. Inspired by the energy and athleticism of his childhood idol Jonty Rhodes, cricket quickly became more than just a game.

At Ridgeview Primary, Gani made the first team in Grade 4 at just 11 years old — an uncommon achievement that set the tone for his development. While performance mattered, his focus was always on contributing to the team, whether with bat or ball. He credits cricket with shaping his character, teaching him resilience, discipline, teamwork and perseverance.

“Cricket teaches you that setbacks are part of the process. Even the best players fail — what matters is how you bounce back,” he said. Like many young cricketers, Gani dreamed of representing South Africa, but at 15 or 16 he chose to pursue a professional career while staying involved in the sport.

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He studied teaching, played club cricket and represented UKZN, before his coaching journey began at Heather Secondary. A turning point came in 2017 after he ran a masterclass clinic at St Charles. A parent, impressed with his ability to connect with young players, immediately asked him to coach his seven-year-old son.

From that moment, the Maritzburg Cricket Academy was born. Today, the academy has grown to more than 100 boys aged six to 16, supported by six coaches. The programme focuses on one-on-one and group coaching, and its success has spread largely through word of mouth and on-field results.

Plans are already in place for a Cape Town tour next year, with an India tour also on the horizon. Gani takes pride in seeing players succeed at school level, but one standout is Daniel Nadesan, who joined the academy at eight and will enter the Tuskers Academy.

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