IND vs SA: South Africa’s Gerald Coetzee left, celebrates with Heinrich Klaasen after dismissing India’s batsman Abhishek Sharma for 7 runs during the 1st T20I between South Africa and India, at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban. (AP Photo)
IND vs SA: Just as Sanju Samson was making mincemeat of the South African bowlers in the last T20, some of their names were unfortunately getting mangled too. As things go, he was out for a duck on Sunday.
So, as the Proteas and Indians go off again, here’s a little pronunciation guide to some of their names. With its eclectic mix of enunciating influences from Afrikaans and Dutch and English and the original tongue, the Saffer names can no doubt be a mouthful. But only till Indian cricket fans get used to them, and start chanting them properly.
Remember Danny Archer from Blood Diamond? Though Rhodesian, that’s usually the charming cadence to African names.
Here goes:
Ryan Rickleton
(Raa-yin Rickul-tuhn)
Somehow it’s not like Gosling or Reynolds, it’s better because it’s a South African cricketer.
Xxx
Aiden Markram
(Eh-done Maarrkruhm)
The captain’s name means Little fire. His form though needs a lot of fire.
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Tristan Stubbs
(Tris-stun stubbs)
Can’t go too wrong, except to remember there’s no harsh Aa in Tristan. Just stun.
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Heinrich Klaasen
(Haa-in-rikhh Class-en)
Means home ruler
Break it down. Haa-in-riikhh Class-en
IPL massive retention for sure. But the name isn’t automatically rich. It’s riikhh. khh.
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David Miller
Day-veed milaah
Sounds easy. But, do complicate. The last er.. as no R.
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Patrick Kruger
(Pah-trick kroo-guh)
No harsh A. Just go subtle on the crew & no annoyance of the grrr.
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Marco Jansen
(Mark-uh Yaan-sun)
Don’t let the top 7 Google searches for Marco Jansen’s name pronunciation fool you. There’s a video instead of his Schools Colts game where he introduces himself.
It’s not Marco, like Italian Marco Polo, though the rk gets a proper roll. But just a lingering Mark-uh. And old trick as good as gold: J is Y. So Yaan-sun.
His name means warlike, Roman war of god, according to the 5th Google search. Believe at own risk, though why might it not?
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Andile Simelane
(Un- Dil-ay (like heart, not hard D of dill, the shepu flavour) + See-may-laa-nay)
All E’s get a proper play.
The allrounder started playing in mini-league. Initially reluctant to play cricket, his friend told him he would get a free KFC. He’s been with Sunrisers Eastern Cape. Was impressed by Andile Phehlukwayo.
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Gerald Coetzee
(Jerr-uhld Kuh-tsz-ee-aah)
This is one right tongue twister with the t, s, z the least of the challenges. It’s the coe & the zee, that one must get right.
It means spear ruler.
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Keshav Maharaj
(Keh-shove ma-ha-raj)
Sounds Indian.
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NqabaYomzi Peter
(Nuh–ba-yom-zi Peter)
He dismissed Sanju Samson. So would be nice to know. From Eastern Cape. The South Africans called him “Nabs” when he got his ODI cap, the locals call him Naa-baa. We think the Q is silent.
Xxx
Ottniel Bartmann
(Oat-ni-uhl baart-muhn)
The chances of getting his spelling wrong are as strong as the pronunciation. It’s ‘i’ before the ‘ e’. And that’s how the sound goes – nee-uhl. Not quite like oatmeal.
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Donovan Farreira
(Dawn-o-one farre-ra)
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Reeza Hendricks
(Reeza – hen-drix, yea, like Jimmy)
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Mihlali Mpongwana
(Mih-laali Clint’Omg-wana)
This one’s a toughie, but we will get it right eventually.
Xxx
Gqeberha
(~Eh-begq-khaa)
The venue for today’s match.
Gqeberha is basically the new name of Port Elizabeth, as mandated by the Eastern Cape. The g and the q are extremely subtle, they come after the vowel, and it ends with a distinct khha, a uniquely specific click sound in Umlungu.
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