The time has finally arrived for the
youngsters in parts of the Eastern Cape to get active again and play with joy
in their hearts and smiles on their faces as the KFC Mini-Cricket Activation
Programme visits schools in Ngqeleni, Centane, Lusikisiki and Bizana this week
between 27-28 May 2021.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) in
partnership with KFC hosted four thrilling cricket spectacles featuring the
official CSA mascot, ZAC, and provincial ambassadors including Border Cricket
stalwart and ex-Protea, Mfuneko Ngam and Momentum Proteas’ Zintle Mali, who
engaged with the learners.
The first stop was at the Old
Bunting Junior Secondary School in Ngqeleni before they proceeded to Tiyo Soga
Primary School in Centane later in the day. The week was rounded off by activations
at Masobhuza Primary School in Lusikisiki and finally, Esitofini Primary
School.
These KFC Mini-Cricket Activation
Programme form part of a 2020/21 KFC Mini-Cricket season relaunch undertaken by
CSA to help provide an enjoyable but more importantly, safe environment for the
kids to get active after a prolonged absence caused by the ongoing COVID-19
outbreak.
Ahead of the resumption, to ensure
the players, coaches and teachers’ safety, KFC Mini-Cricket identified
non-hotspot regions across the country where non-contact school sport can take
place.
They have also procured Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE) and sanitisers for all participating schools,
provided extra playing equipment to limit sharing between players, as well as
arrange a Safety Officer to help facilitate the COVID-19 protocols for each
school.
CSA’s Mass Participation
Coordinator, Buhle Motshegoa is pleased with how the inland Eastern Cape-leg of
the KFC Mini-Cricket Regional Festivals went, highlighting the huge excitement
for the programme as well as the bright talent on show in the province. A
province that produced the likes of Proteas legends; Makhaya Ntini and Mark
Boucher, along with former mini-cricketer and current Proteas Women star,
Ayabonga Khaka.
“We are happy that the 2020/21 KFC
Mini-Cricket season was able to get underway in the form of the Activation
Programmes and that once again we get to see our mini cricketers and coaches
play with smiles on their faces,” Motshegoa commented.
“As soon as we set foot in Ngqeleni,
you could sense the excitement in the air, and passion for the game of cricket
from all those involved in making the two-day cricketing spectacle a resounding
success, while we strictly adhered to the COVID-19 health regulations.
“Although getting kids active in a
fun and enjoyable way is the main goal, we also got to witness some sensational
talent on the field, between both the boys and girls. This bodes well, not only
for the growth of the KFC Mini-Cricket programme but also for the South African
cricket pipeline,” she added.
About KFC Mini-Cricket:
KFC
Mini-Cricket provides a platform for kids in South Africa to have fun and get
active. KFC Mini-Cricket is the largest grassroots development sports programme
in South Africa and is also an essential building block for learning cricketing
basics and entrenching a love for the game.
As
of the 2019/2020 season, there are 126 642 kids from 6617 schools active in the
KFC Mini-Cricket programme who are coached by 13 673 volunteer coaches. KFC has
sponsored KFC Mini-Cricket since 2010 and in the 2012/13 cricket season KFC
became the title sponsor of the KFC T20 Internationals.
For
more information, please visit https://order.kfc.co.za/minicricket/minicrickethome.
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| CSA Mascot ZAC in action with pupil from Tiyo Soga Primary School at KFC Mini-Cricket Activation Programme at Tiyo Soga Primary School in Centane on 27 May 2021 © Bheki Radebe/Backpages. |
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| Aspiring cricketer, Aphumelele Qebeyi from Tiyo Soga Primary School in the zone at the crease during the KFC Mini-Cricket Activation Programme at Tiyo Soga Primary School in Centane on 27 May 2021 © Bheki Radebe/Backpages |
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| Endinakho Marhubeni from Old Bunting JSS playing a lofted hook shot during the KFC Mini-Cricket Activation Programme hosted at Old Bunting Junior Secondary School in Ngqeleni on 27 May 2021 © Bheki Radebe/Backpages |
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| Old Bunting Junior Secondary School’s Liyema Dlanjwa in full flight as the kids get active during the KFC Mini-Cricket Activation Programme at Old Bunting Junior Secondary School in Ngqeleni on 27 May 2021 © Bheki Radebe/Backpages |
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