GET INTO ACTION, GET INTO KFC MINI-CRICKET – PORT ELIZABETH HOST THE EIGHTH PROVINCIAL FESTIVAL

Eastern Province Cricket Union hosted a KFC Mini-Cricket festival at st Georges park on Friday, with over 700 children (boys and girls) between the ages of 3 and 13 getting active on the cricket field.

The kids that participated in the festival came in school teams with eight players per team.  The teams then each played two games.  The KFC Action Zones, which are inflatables that enable kids to improve their skills in a fun way, were stationed at the ground.

But there was more to the day today than just cricket explains Lauren Turnbull, KFC CSI and Sponsorships Manager. “The best way to get a message across to kids is through other kids and with this in mind we have introduced a kid’s ambassador search this year.  At each festival, including St. Georges Park, we set up an audition area to select kid ambassadors who will be used to promote our KFC Mini-Cricket message which is to encourage kids to get active and get into KFC Mini-Cricket. “

KFC partnered with Cricket South Africa (CSA) in 2010 with the aim of reaching as many children as possible and to promote an active and balanced lifestyle. The 2011/12 season saw the programme grow by 20%, double the target set, so there are now over 100 000 kids actively involved.

The focus this season is the KFC Mini-Cricket kids ambassador search and for kids already in the programme to play more frequently. “This season we will ensure that we maintain and improve the quality of cricket played by the children and will continue to encourage enrolment. A main focus for this season will be the growth of KFC Mini-Cricket into rural communities,” said Niels Momberg, Youth Cricket Manager at CSA.

AB De Villiers has been an ambassador of KFC Mini-Cricket since 2010 and is an inspiration to the kids involved.  “Everyone needs an introduction into a particular sport and we couldn’t ask for a better way than to be involved in KFC Mini-Cricket. I believe this season will entice even more kids into the programme and I bet it will unearth some characters as ambassadors.  I will have to work hard to keep my position as the ambassador.”

KFC is immensely proud of their involvement with KFC Mini-Cricket: “What we have achieved to date goes far beyond our expectations.  Our message is to encourage active and balanced lifestyles for children and each season we look at ensuring that the kids have fun outdoors, this season is proving to be no different,” said Turnbull.

Each of the 16 cricket provinces will stage a KFC Mini-Cricket festival and the Eastern Province festival was the Eighth.  KFC and CSA remain committed to building cricket amongst the youth now and well into the future.