What is Proteas legend Makhaya Ntini doing today?

Makhaya Ntini’s attitude, work rate, and cheerful nature made him one of the most popular and loved sportsmen in the country.

Former Proteas fast bowler Makhaya Ntini. Image: @ProteasMenCSA/X

Raised in a village called Mdingi, near East London, Makhaya Ntini became one of the best fast bowlers the country has ever produced.

Until this day, “Mdingi Express” remains one of the most popular and loved sportsmen in the country. His attitude, work rate, and cheerful nature made him a standout amongst his peers.

Makhaya Ntini was first spotted by Border Cricket Board official Raymond Booi at the age of 15. Booi was impressed by the barefooted Makhaya and contacted his seniors to place the young player in a cricket festival in Queenstown.

A few years later, Ntini represented the South Africa Under-19 squad and later got a call-up to the senior side, becoming the first black player to represent South Africa. From then on, the fast bowler spearheaded South Africa’s bowling attack together with Shaun Pollock and Allan Donald.

He took 650 international wickets in his career, making him one of the top five best South African bowlers of all time. In 2003, he became the first South African to take 10 wickets at Lord’s. The former Warriors fast bowler retired from all forms of cricket in 2011.

Where is Makhaya Ntini now?

Since retiring from cricket, Ntini has gone into coaching and commentary. In January 2016, he was appointed as the assistant coach of the Zimbabwean national cricket team. He later was elevated to head coach but resigned in 2018.

In 2023, Makhaya Ntini joined Morrisville Unity in the inaugural edition of Major League Cricket USA Masters T10. When he is not coaching, ‘Mdingi Express’ works as a commentator for SuperSport TV.