South Western Districts batsman Keenan Vieira retired from professional cricket recently.
The 27-year-old Vieira’s first-class career started with Eastern Province in 2019 and ended with South Western Districts in 2025.
“And so everything must come to an end. Thank you to everyone that made it possible. Time for the next chapter,” Vieira wrote on social media.
SWD chief executive officer Albertus Kennedy added: “We respect Keenan’s retirement and service to SWD cricket. He was on a high-performance contract for the past three seasons. He will pursue a career in coaching.”
Vieira has joined several other retiring professional cricketers recently, including Western Province’s Yaseen Vallie, the Dolphins’ Sarel Erwee, North West’s Matthew Kleinveldt, Easterns’ Divan Posthumus and South Western Districts’ Kelly Smuts.
Vallie’s first-class career started in 2009. He played 56 first-class fixtures for Western Province, 51 for the Warriors, 32 for the Cape Cobras and three for Border.
He hit 16 first-class centuries, with a highest score of 167 for the Cobras against the Titans in 2011. Vallie also played 124 List A and 59 T20 matches – and hit one limited-overs century.
“I have decided this is the time is right to retire from professional cricket. I have really enjoyed the years of experience and the memories made. But, yes, now is the right time to step away from playing at this level,” Vallie told Club Cricket SA.
“From here, I am looking to give back and help a game that has served me for many years.”
Erwee debuted in first-class cricket in 2008 and collected 7,453 runs at an average of 37, including 13 centuries and 44 half-tons during a 17-year career.
“It has been a tricky two years for me, where I haven’t really played much cricket. Cricket has been my life. It has given me everything and I have given it everything. It’s a game I truly love. A lot of people like cricket, but I really love cricket,” Erwee told Club Cricket SA.
“I’m a student of the game and, unfortunately over the last two years, I fell out of love for the game. There are a lot of circumstances around that. I don’t want to remember cricket as a burden and I don’t want to take that burden into my family.”
Kleinveldt played 139 first-class fixtures across a 15-year career. His career started at Western Province and ended at North West. He also represented the Titans and Knights.
“First and foremost, it has been a very difficult decision to give up the game,” Kleinveldt told OFM.
“It has been a lifelong dream of mine to possibly one day play for the Proteas, but I had to look at things realistically. Having kids and needing to provide for them going forward made what was a tough call a little easier.”
Posthumus debuted in 2021 – and collected 19 first-class, 15 List A and eight T20 caps for Easterns.
His final professional fixture was against Northern Cape in the 4-Day Domestic Series, division two, in January 2025.
“I have decided to retire from professional cricket,” the 30-year-old Posthumus told Club Cricket SA.
“I have always had a strong desire to make sure that, one day, when I start a family and get married, that I am capable of taking care of them. My desire to do that is more than my own personal interests. That is my number one priority.”
Smuts collected 124 first-class caps from 2009 to 2025. He played for South Western Districts, the Warriors and Northern Cape – and collected 15 centuries and six five-wicket hauls.
“I decided at the start of the 2024-25 season that it was going to be my last. I didn’t announce it at the time because I didn’t want the season to be about me – I don’t like that limelight,” Smuts told the Full Quota Podcast.
“I had a decent previous season with SWD. It wasn’t amazing – it wasn’t bad. It was time. I knew my heart wasn’t fully in it anymore.”