Lotli Sesele
Head Coach

Warren Bell
Assistant Coach

Tyler Easton
Strength & Conditioning Coach

Innis Erasmus
Physiotherapist

LIAM ALDER

Liam Alder’s journey - as a slow left-arm orthodox bowler and right-hand bat is a testament to the potential of young cricketers in South Africa. Alder debuted in List A cricket in January 2022 and showcased his prowess against well-established sides. His debut in first class cricket came shortly thereafter and he demonstrated remarkable stability and maturity on the field.

His performances in domestic cricket led to his selection for the SA U/19 team where he participated in international tours and tournaments. His unique left-arm spin became an asset for his team, offering a refreshing option and the ability to break partnerships. He joined the Garden Route Badger in September 2025.

BANELE CELE

Banele Cele was born in 1998 in the bustling city of Durban, KwaZulu Natal. His cricketing journey took a significant leap when he joined the KwaZulu Natal cricket team. His breakthrough moment came in the Under 19 Cricket World Cup. Following his successful stint at Under 19 level, Cele, transitioned into domestic cricket where he joined the Durban Heat in the Mzanzi Super league and later represented the Dolphins. The 2025/26 season will be his first season for the Garden Route Badgers.

NATHAN ENGELBRECHT

Nathan Engelbrecht, who was born in 2001 in the coastal town of Vredenburg in the Boland. He is a talented left-handed batsman and wicket keeper who has impressed representing Boland and age-group level.

His performances and skills have earned him a high-performance contract with the Paarl based professional outfit. The retirement from cricket by Luke Beaufort has opened the door for him to slot into the Garden Route Badgers team with a professional contract for the 2025/26 season.

BENJAMIN HANSEN

Benni Hansen is a great schoolboy prospect from the prestigious Wynberg Boy’s High School - as a wicketkeeper/batsman he represented the SA Schools and SA U/19 teams in 2023 and was also the captain in 2024.

He is a gifted right-hander and a very capable wicket keeper. In a move and in search of consistent professional appearances, he grabbed the opportunity to switch to the Garden Route Badgers ahead of the 2025/26 summer.

KYLE JACOBS

Kyle Jacobs is one of several cricketing products of Gelvandale in Gqeberha. He made his first-class debut for Border in 2019 and had his first stint of franchise cricket for the Warriors in 2021.

As an all rounder he can bat any position in the top six although and offers the option to open the batting. In white ball cricket he is a very valuable leg-spinner and he will be keen to cement himself as a valuable and key player in the Badgers set-up.

TYRECE KARELSE

Tyrece Karelse is another success story of the Cricket South Africa Hub development program. He made his first-class debut for SWD in 2019 and two months later he was named in South Africa’s squad for the 2020 Under 19 ICC World Cup that was played at home.

He is a left-handed middle order batsman who is also a tidy medium pace-bowler. He has been an SWD representative since he was thirteen and progressed through every age group through to the provincial senior side.

SINTU MAJIZA

Sintu Majiza is an exciting fast bowling talent from Thembalethu in George. He emerged through the Fort Hare Academy’s program in the Eastern Cape in 2019 and just under two years later he was handed his first-class debut for his home province of SWD.

A clever, but developing seamer, Sintu not only has genuine pace and with clever slower ball variations make him a real handful for batsmen. Under his teammates he is known as “Magic”.

LIYABONA MALIFE

Liyabona Malife, a product of the Cricket South Africa Hub program, has made his breakthrough in the 2023/24 season when a was drafted into the Garden Route Badgers squad.

Malife, who did his apprenticeship at the Rosemoor Hub in George, represented SWD for two years at the Khaya Majola National tournament, showcased his skills in specifically the white ball format where he often opens the bowling in the power-play and proved to be a very respectable fielder.

PHEKO MOLETSANE

Pheko Moletsane is a flashy right-hander suited to the middle order and a very capable right-arm off spinner who hails from Welkom in the Free State. As a junior he was a regular selection from Free State from u/13 level right through to the u/19 Khaya Majola tournament side which he had represented for two years.

In 2019, at just 17, he made his first-class debut for Free State against Border. By the end of 2019 it was no surprise that he was selected for the SA U/19 side that represented South Africa (as hosts) for the 2020 ICC U/19 World Cup. In the 2021/22 season he re-located from the Free State and has joined South Western Districts as a professional cricket player and will now be in this fifth season with the Garden Route Badgers.

ZACK MOMBERG

Zack Momberg was born in 2004 and he grew up in a family that appreciated sports, with cricket being central part of their lives. As a King Edward XII scholar he represented Central Gauteng and the Khaya Majola national tournament and went on the represent the Lions.

In 2025/26 he entered a professional contract with the Garden Route Badgers. His ability to adapt to different formats of the game is testament to his skills and mental toughness.

MONDLI NGOBESI

Mondli Ngobesi is an incredibly talented seam bowler who hails from Umlazi in KwaZulu Natal. In 2014 he was awarded a scholarship from Glenwood Prep School and later attended school at Maritzburg College and was drafted into the KwaZulu Natal development program.

He made his provincial debut for KwaZulu Natal Inland in 2018 and was selected for the SA U/19 squad and went on the play in the 2020 ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup that was hosted in South Africa. His first professional contract was with the Tuskers before he accepted a contract offer from the Garden Route Badgers which he joined in September 2025.

REAGON RHODE

Reagon Rhode is an exciting leg spinner who emerged from the Union Stars Cricket Club in Oudtshoorn. He is since 2021 a fringe player to the professional squad and received his first call-up to the Badgers team in the 2024/25 season.

The young Rhode will be keen to create more opportunities at the higher level and cement himself as a regular in the starting eleven.

HEATH RICHARDS

Heath Richards is a strongly build and hard-hitting batsman, first came into the limelight through his performances for the Eastern Province U/15 side. He moved to Glenwood House in George and represented the SWD u/18 team at the Khaya Majola National cricket tournaments.

A first-class debut for SWD followed in 2019 and after a couple of years in the SA domestic circuit, he made the move to the USA. A batting all-rounder with Atlanta Lightning in Minor League Cricket, he is all set to carry forward his form into the US Major League for MI New York.

RUAN TERBLANCHE

Ruan Terblanche, who was educated at Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch made his first class debut for Boland in the 2018/19 season after he represented the SA U/19 team.

He is a solid top order batsman and outstanding slip fielder who is in his third season with the Garden Route Badgers. Two ankle injuries and surgery have hampered his career and he will be keen to showcase his exceptional talent in the upcoming season.

JADE RICHTER

Jade Richter is a 29-year-old fast bowler who hails from Pretoria and shaped himself in the Titans premier league in Pretoria for the Pretoria High School Old Boys Cricket Club.

During the South African winter, he played for Olton and West Cricket Club in the Warwickshire County Premier league. He grasps the opportunity as a loan player for the Badgers.

YASEEN VALLI

Yaseen Valli was part of the South African squad for the 2014 ICC Cricket World Cup. The former King Edward VII learning made his provincial debut for Gauteng in the 2015 Africa T20 Cup. He later represented Easterns and the Titans before joining the Garden Route Badgers in the 2021/22 season. After a season with the Oudtshoorn based team he spent two seasons with the Tuskers before making a return to the Badgers. As an experienced opening batsman, he will captain the team in the four-day format.

GEORGE VAN HEERDEN

George van Heerden was named captain of the South African U/19 team for the 2022 ICC u/19 World Cup in the West Indies. His leadership roles include head boy of the famous Grey High School in Gqeberha, captain of the Garden Route Badgers in the 2024/25 season and skipper of the SA Emerging team who toured Bangladesh in 2025. His prolific runs scoring records has earned him the Garden Route Badgers player of the season for the 2024/25 season. He was named captain of the white ball formats for the 2025/26 season.