Victory for the South African team meant back to back series wins for the Proteas over Pakistan and their archrivals India over the summer.

Members of the Kaizer Chiefs first team and their families were part of the capacity Valentine’s Day crowd that saw the Proteas emerge victorious, in their final preparation game ahead of the International Cricket Council World Cup which begins in the Caribbean next month.

Chiefs, who were guests of their sponsors Standard Bank - sponsor the South African Cricket team - at Wednesday evening’s game at the Wanderers, had the opportunity to meet with the SA cricket team at the conclusion of the game.

All the Chiefs players who had remained until the end of the game, including coach Ernst Middendorp were invited to the players enclosure, where they handed over a signed jersey with good will messages from all the Chiefs players to the Proteas ahead of next months show piece tournament in the Caribbean.

Amakhosi vice captain Fabian McCarthy, who wished the Proteas all the best for next months ICC World Cup, handed over the jersey to Proteas captain Graeme Smith.

McCarthy said, “Kaizer Chiefs and all of its fans would like to wish Graeme Smith and the team the best of luck at the World Cup, every time you guys go out to bat, field or bowl we will be there with you”.

Smith was thankful for the gesture shown by the Chiefs players and added, “we don’t get to spend much time with the soccer players.”

Proteas fast bowler Andrea Nel, who is close friends with Chiefs keeper Rowen Fernandez came in with a fast one and made it known to his captain that he has quite a few friends playing in the PSL.

Smith then continued and said, “we really appreciate the gesture shown to us by the Chiefs players, and we are grateful for their support.”

Once the speeches were out of the way the players spend some time together chatting, with some cheerful banter filling the air. Fast bowler Makhaya Ntini and Chiefs defender Patrick Mayo, who both hail from the Eastern Cape caught up on old times.

Mayo enjoyed reacquainting himself with his old friend saying, “I really enjoyed the game and it was even nicer getting to catch up with an old friend like Makhaya”.

Mayo was also full of praise for the one time cattle herder from the Eastern Cape as he added, “Makhaya is a great competitor and a true sporting ambassador his story of rising from obscurity to international stardom is a remarkable one, he has done well and I am sure he will continue to do the country proud with a number of good performances at the World Cup”.

Andisa Ntsubane a representative of Standard Bank group sponsorship division expressed his gratitude to Kaizer Chiefs for taking time out to attend the game, as well as allowing Standard Bank the opportunity of hosting them at the game.

“For a long time we have been trying to marry the different sporting codes that we sponsor together, for Standard Bank it was a pleasure to bring Chiefs to the Wanderers and we hope we can do it again some time. Thanks must also go to Dara Carroll of Chiefs and Cricket South Africa for allowing this unique meeting between the two teams to happen,” concluded Ntsubane.

Overall the Chiefs team’s presence at the cricket drew a lot of attention, as the television cameras kept a close eye on the team and had them up on the stadiums giant screen a number of times.

Apart from the gaze of the cameras constantly on them The Amakhosi players were kept busy by keen autograph hunters, and fans wanting to take photographs with them, which they duly obliged to.

On a night when South Africa celebrated a series win over Pakistan The Amakhosi were there to provide the support, and as the Proteas head off to the Caribbean they do so knowing that Chiefs will have an added interest in how they fare at the World Cup.