The 28-year-old, born in Klerksdorp, spent the past season plying his trade with the Titans in Pretoria following the Knights’ relegation to Division 2. His stint in the capital proved fruitful, as Senokwane earned his long-awaited Proteas debut against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo. Notably, he had already been on the national selectors’ radar during his previous spell in Bloemfontein.

Senokwane returns with a wealth of experience under his belt, having featured in 63 first-class matches, 63 List A games and 37 T20s. He has seven centuries to his name, including a superb career-best 205 - scored for the Knights against his former side, the North West Dragons, at the Mangaung Oval.

Lesego Senokwane during the 2024/25 One-Day Cup for the Kngihts. Photo: Morgan Piek

Knights CEO Johan van Heerden confirmed the move.  Senokwane’s mental toughness and experience are key assets to his technically sound game. His return comes at an important time, with the union having invested heavily in younger talent going forward.

One of those rising stars, left-handed opener Jono Bird, is equally excited about the new chapter in his career. After a run of injury setbacks during his time with Western Province, Bird is eager for a fresh start in Bloemfontein.

“I’m really looking forward to the move to the Knights,” said the Bishops product.

“I’ve played most of my cricket in Cape Town - pretty much all of it - so this will be a new challenge, but one I believe will benefit me both as a person and as a cricketer.

“I’ve had a few struggles with injuries over the past few years which have limited my game time, but I’ve been working hard to get everything back on track. The squad has a great balance of youth and experience, and that usually creates a strong environment on and off the field.

“You could see that in the way they secured promotion. I’ve played with a few of the guys before, and I’m keen to contribute as much as I can to the team’s success. All in all, I’m very excited for this new chapter.”

Lesego Senokwane during fielding drills with the Knights. Photo: Morgan Piek

Meanwhile, Eastern Cape Iinyathi seamer Nico van Zyl is also relishing the opportunity to step up to Division 1 cricket. The quick who finished as the leading wicket-taker in the Division 2 One-Day Cup, will join the Knights after a stint in the United Kingdom.

“Moving to the Knights is a huge honour and a challenge I’ve been looking forward to for a while,” Van Zyl told OFM Sport.

“Stepping up from Division 2 to Division 1 is a massive milestone for me, and I’m eager to test myself at the highest level of domestic cricket. I’ve loved the journey so far, but I feel this is the right time for the next step.

“The work doesn’t stop, though. I’m heading to the UK during the off-season to keep my game sharp. There’s no better way to prepare for a big season in Bloemfontein than spending time in the middle in different conditions. I’m really excited to get going.”

It is also understood that Limpopo Impalas all-rounder Emanuel Motswiri is set to join the Knights. He finished as the third-highest wicket-taker in the 2025/26 One-Day Cup with 16 wickets.

Should that move be confirmed, the Knights will boast the top three bowlers from the competition, with Van Zyl, Sithembile Langa (17 wickets), and Motswiri. Langa was one of the Knights unsung heroes during the One-Day Cup and played a big part in the team claiming a domestic treble.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cvdw