WELLINGTON HOSTS THE BOLAND KFC MINI-CRICKET FESTIVAL

Wellington is where it all happened on Saturday when the Boland KFC Mini-Cricket Festival took place. This comes the day after the Ram Slam T20 Challenge where the Nashua Cape Cobras, took on the bizhub Highveld Lions at Sahara Past Newlands. Though the two events happened at two very different places of the cricket spectrum, the link between the two is a strong one.

With over 100 000 kids currently involved in KFC Mini-Cricket across the country, there are 16 dedicated Provincial KFC Mini-Cricket festivals held annually. These festivals see a terrific coming-together of a number of youngsters in the name of cricket and camaraderie, creating an environment where these future stars can formulate and sharpen their skills.

Initially focused on creating active involvement and enrolment since becoming title sponsor of KFC Mini-Cricket three years ago, KFC is currently endeavouring to further the programme by creating KFC Mini-Cricket ambassadors. These youngsters have a unique ability in that they can spread the message of the game to kids like themselves, and during the KFC Mini-Cricket festivals kids can audition for these roles.

During the KFC T20 International games against New Zealand and Pakistan, these chosen ambassadors got the opportunity to be involved in the match coin toss, escort players onto the field of play and act as ball boys on the boundary ropes. Something that they are again getting the opportunity to do during the Ram Slam T20 Challenge matches.

One such player is Cape Cobras and Proteas hard hitting batsman, Richard Levi. Not so long ago Richard was one of hundreds of enthusiastic kids who attended a Mini-Cricket festival where he got the chance to bat, bowl, field and keep wicket - the essential all round opportunity that the game of KFC Mini-Cricket affords to all kids participating. From this small beginning, Richard has since become a major player at the highest level, and is playing a key role for the Cape Cobras in the Ram Slam T20 Challenge, of which KFC is an associate sponsor. This makes him the ideal example for the youngsters from the KFC Mini-Cricket festival.

An additional attraction at the KFC Mini-Cricket festival was the KFC Action Zone. Here the kids had an additional platform to test their skills and interact with their new found friends, furthering the KFC Mini-Cricket campaign slogan of ‘Get into Action. Get into KFC Mini-Cricket.’

With numerous opportunities to get into the game, as well as experience it at just about every level, KFC is creating a platform for kids to realise their cricketing potential. And from this active platform perhaps get to grow from KFC Mini-Cricket togs to the colours of the Cape Cobras in the near future.