Two lucky families jetting off to Australia with KFC!

This February two lucky families will be joining KFC and the Proteas Family for the ultimate family cricketing experience in Australia as they support the Proteas on the world’s biggest cricketing stage!

The Johannesburg based Coetzee family and the Vinger family from Bloemfontein were the randomly selected victors of the KFC competition.  These lucky families entered the Join the Proteas Family with KFC competition which launched in December 2014. To participate, passionate cricket fans either dialed *120*532#  or visited www.kfc.co.za/cricket and correctly answered a Proteas Family trivia question which then put them in line to win big with KFC.

“We still can’t believe we are going to Australia, my family and I are so excited and are counting the number of sleeps till we board that plane. We would like to wish the Proteas the best of luck for all their matches and we can’t wait to proudly wear our national colours and support them in Sydney” says Mr. Coetzee.

“We are excited to give our passionate cricket fans a larger-than-life experience that includes watching the Proteas in action because we, like our customers, are proud supporters of the Proteas team,” says Lizanne Bartlett, KFC Marketing Director.

The winning families will be jetting off to Australia on the 20^th of February, where they will be soaking up the cricket crazy atmosphere. The winning families will also get an opportunity to enjoy a number of breathtaking experiences such as a tour of the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), lunch overlooking stunning Bondi Beach and a trip to the amazing spellbinding Taranga Zoo in Sydney.

 “A word of thanks to everyone who took the time to enter and join our growing Proteas Family. To the winning families, we hope you have a memorable so good experience like no other in Australia” adds Bartlett.

To follow the journey of the KFC Join the Proteas Family experience, check out the latest updates on the KFC Facebook page

Thank you for being part of the KFC family! KFC So Good!

Powerade Chosen Column 4 - Makhaya Ntini

The second Test, while it was not as crazy as the first, it was still pretty exciting in the end and, for a while on Monday, the results could have gone either way. It could even have ended up as a draw.

For me, Australia’s win was not all that surprising and it showed that there is nothing quite as dangerous as a wounded animal, and that definitely also goes for Australian cricket teams!

The first Test, with both batting sides collapsing the way they did, was not a good reflection of the relative strengths of the two sides and although we won the first quite easily in the end, the second Test was a much better reflection of how strong the teams were and it showed that there was very little to choose between them.

If I was to analyze what happened, I would sum it up by saying that South Africa were unable to finish them off when we had them on the ropes, whereas a number of key players stepped up for Australia at the right time.

There are lessons to learn from that game which apply to all games. Unfortunately South Africa was unable to get those last few wickets. It’s been a common problem with the team and I remember a similar thing happening against England at Newlands not so long ago.

Imran Tahir did well to wrap up the Australian tail in the first innings, although they did manage to get another 20 runs at the end that proved crucial. The plan was obviously to get the leg spinner to do the same in the second innings, but unfortunately this plan did not come together.

To win a Test match, especially one between two teams that are as closely matched as Australia and South Africa have been in this series, you need your big guns to fire and I think that is what the Australians did in the second half of the Test match.  Ricky Ponting has been in terrible form, but he came right at exactly the right time, and his 62 in the second innings was the foundation for the win and it took an experienced player like him to produce the goods when it really counted.

Aussie wicket keeper, Brad Haddin, was another senior player who has not been producing the goods and, again, he turned it on when it really counted and his 55 was invaluable. Mitchell Johnson was another key player.  He has been under pressure and, although his bowling has not been good (I think he was injured early on in the game) he produced the goods with the bat, and was responsible for upping the scoring rate at a time when it looked like Australia were out of it.

And then there was Pat Cummins. The 18 year-old had a great game and showed that he was capable of taking that important step up to Test cricket in his stride. To take seven wickets, and be named man of the match in his debut Test, is fantastic and it shows he is one to watch in the future. He proved the Australian selectors’ decision to go with him, despite his lack of experience, was a good one. Australia has never been afraid to pick promising young players and this time was no different.

I’m hoping the South African selectors and the new coach take note and are not caught up in the conservative approach we have been following in recent series.

So it’s the Sri Lankans next and I am confident that we will be in with a great chance of beating them. Senior players like Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn have been great in this series and the signs are there that the others are getting into top form as well. And we also have Vernon Philander, a newcomer who performed like a veteran.  A debutant being named man of the series is not something you see every day.

THE POWERADE CHOSEN ONE:  For his performances with both bat and ball, in both Test matches, has to be Vernon Philander.

POWERADE HYDRATION TIP -   Drinking a sports drink, like Powerade, after the race helps your body to recover more quickly after strenuous physical activity.

Look out for the Makhaya Ntini Column

Once again the weekend is here and once again we are going to be lucky enough to read Makhaya Ntini’s column on the Star Newspaper, IOL and on this blog.

I am looking forward to read what Makhaya thinks about the recent Australia vs South Africa test series and I would love to know who his Powerade Chosen One is for the week. Last week’s Chosen one was Jacques Rudolph and he did not really perform all that well in the tow tests that he played but I do agree with Makhaya when he says that Jacques is a player to look out for. On the 15^th December he will open the batting against Sri Lanka and I believe that he will do fantastically well.

Makhaya might be coming to the end of his career but it is not due to a lack of the love on the game, a diminishing love of his fans or a lack of commitment, it is solely due to mother nature and the fact that life after 30 is not the same as life between 18 and 30. I had the privilege to watch the Warriors playing against the Lions on Wednesday and Makhaya bowled fantastically well.

Watch this blog for Makhaya’s thoughts.

POWERADE CHOSED COLUMN 3 - MAKHAYA NTINI

No matter what happens at The Wanderers over the next few days, the Aussie tour of 2011 will be remembered for that strange day at Newlands when there was play from all four innings, all on the same day.

I never saw anything like it in the 101 Test matches that I played, and when people ask me what happened, I have to say I don’t really know. Obviously, it wasn’t a typical, batsman-friendly Newlands wicket, but that doesn’t explain why so many batsmen went out to balls that, while they did do a bit, weren’t really unplayable.

The bowlers did, however, do well to put the ball in the right place and take advantage of the situation. It was a day I personally would have loved to be there, especially seeing the opponents were Australia, the team we as South Africans love to beat the most.

On that note, the second Test is at a delicate balance and don’t believe those who have been saying that the South African team will be happy with a draw. That, I think, is the sort of thing that the cricket reporters and analysts say. Sure, it would be great to win a home series against Australia for the first time after all these years, but it would be even better if it could be a white wash.

Well that was the way we always felt in the dressing room in the years that I played. The team spirit was always there and that spirit was based on all the players motivating each other and believing that we can win. Going for a draw was never part of our plan.

I’m sure that attitude played a big role in the team’s success at Newlands last weekend. Sure, they would have been down after collapsing for just 96 runs in our first innings, but in the dressing room there would have not been any talk of containing the Australians in their second innings, and then hoping to survive.

The captain would have been the one to talk at that stage, and Graeme was always good at getting the players to buy in to the plan. They would all have been telling each other that if Australia could bowl us out cheaply, then we could also do that to them.

Then Vernon and the other bowlers did just that, and the team got a famous victory.

I’ve also been asked what I think of Gary as the coach. I played with him many times of course and we all got to respect him for his ability and his character. He has such an excellent technical knowledge of the game, and he has the respect of the players and the ability to communicate with them. That he has been there before is very important because he knows what is needed to succeed. I believe the coach’s role is to make sure that every player is ready and able to give of his best when the game begins.

That includes physical fitness, but also mental attitude and technical skills. As my career went on I found that coaches were using teams of people to take care of all those aspects. Gary showed in India that he is very good at it, and that will definitely make South Africa a better team.

Once the match is on, it’s the captain who calls the shots, in consultation with the players, and they decide together on how they will play the game. I believe the decision will be to go all out to beat the Aussies in this one, but time will tell.

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THE POWERADE CHOSEN ONE - I am absolutely thrilled to see my old mate Jacques Rudolph back in the Test setup.

He has made heaps of runs in all formats of the game this season and his selection is encouraging because it shows they are taking notice of players who are in top form and that it is not a closed shop.

He hasn’t done so well in the Tests so far, but many of the other batsmen have also failed. I’m hoping he will be given the chance to get to his top form in the remaining matches. I know he will prove that it was the right decision to bring him back

POWERADE HYDRATION TIP -  Powerade  provides an effective combination of fluids, electrolytes and energy-yielding carbohydrates* that help your body to perform at its peak.

*carbohydrate energy comes from calories

Jacques Rudolph rehydrating himself with Powerade

Jacques Rudolph and Hashim Amla having a drinks break on Thursday

POWERADE CHOSEN TO HYDRATE THE PROTEAS

Cricket South Africa has chosen Powerade to hydrate the Proteas during the current Summer Series taking place from 13 October 2011 to 22 January 2012.

It may take up 7 litres of fluids per player per day to keep the Proteas squad adequately hydrated during matches. A further 4 litres per player is allocated to keep the team hydrated during training sessions. This highlights the importance of players being adequately hydrated before, during, and after physical activity.

The American College of Sports Medicine position stand on exercise and fluid replacement (2007) includes recommendations for fluid intake before, during and after physical activity. Sports drinks such as Powerade have been shown to be an effective source of fluids, providing carbohydrates and electrolytes. 

The number one rule to avoid dehydration is to listen to your body. Thirst is the body’s first indication of dehydration. Failure to replace fluid, carbohydrates and electrolytes can lead to fatigue, which can impair performance.

Rob Walters, fitness and conditioning coach of the Proteas who has over 10 years experience in training elite athletes highlights the importance of consuming specially formulated sports drinks such as Powerade during intense physical activity. “Powerade is key to our performance in terms of providing the energy required to maintain sustained levels of high performance, as well as helps with recovery after prolonged exercise.” 

Walters further highlights how dehydration can kick-in quickly in South Africa’s hot and humid conditions:  “When conditions are hot and humid the players sweat more, so it’s important to replace those fluids and nutrients which are lost through sweating. With extreme temperatures, players average between 3 to 5 litres of fluids in a training session.”

Drinking Powerade helps put back both the fluid and electrolytes lost during prolonged exercise.

“Powerade is proud to have been chosen by Cricket South Africa to hydrate the Proteas. Throughout the world, Powerade is associated with premier sporting events and athletes like the Proteas.  The work the players put in behind the scenes, on the training field, is paramount to success on the playing field, and as a sports drink, Powerade is proud to be a part of that journey towards the game.   Powerade’s role is to ensure players stay hydrated, replacing lost fluid, carbohydrates and electrolytes, and making sure they are ready for the next part of the game, that’s what the fans want to see, Proteas playing to the best of their ability”, said Ismail Nanabhay, Senior Brand Manager: Sports & Iced Tea at Coca-Cola South Africa.

Powerade Chosen Column 2 - Makhaya Ntini

I trust all my fans are enjoying my column. Some parts of the country are experiencing extremely hot weather conditions at the moment and please make sure to stay well hydrated.

Thursday was without a doubt the strangest day of Test cricket I have ever heard of. I was away at training in the morning and came back just as South Africa went in to bat. I took a short nap and when I turned on the TV again we were all out for 96! Then I had to go to a meeting and when I returned Australia were all out for 47. This created the gap South Africa needed to get the runs and win the game – which they did in a mere three days.

No-one could have predicted the turn of events. In fact I would have thought the Newlands wicket would be batsman-friendly. Not that you can blame the wicket entirely. There was obviously some excellent bowling, by Watson and Philander especially, but the batsmen must take some blame for panicking and folding under the pressure. It should never have happened and lets hope both sides learn a lesson from this.

Despite what happened in the first Test, if I were to choose between Newlands and The Wanderers as a Test venue to bowl at I would definitely go for The Wanderers. As a fast bowler I always felt there was something in it for me there.

The ball carries better in the thin air and there is pace and bounce on the pitch. There is also the possibility that you can get one or two balls to do something unusual.

So, you feel that you are always in with a chance of getting a wicket, even when the batsmen in is well established. For me the game was always on when I bowled at the bullring.

I do think that it has changed in recent times, however. Maybe the reason lies in the preparation of the wickets. There were times when Tests up there were all over inside three days, but that doesn’t happen so much anymore.

You have to wonder if they are trying to produce wickets that will see the contest stretch over all five days now. Whatever the reason, in recent games, it seems like the spinners get something out of the pitch towards the end of the game.

So it’s important to choose a frontline spinner who can hold up one end, and have a part-timer as second spinner to relieve him.

As far as selection is concerned, it’s obvious that the fast bowlers can only operate in short spells, especially in these hot weather conditions, so you have to have the spinners to hold up one end while you rotate your quicks at the other.

To beat Australia  everyone has to be at their best. It comes down to what I call being the “captain of your own space”. Each player needs to take control of his own fitness, and we don’t stand a chance if everyone is not in top shape. And each player has to play a leadership role. Whether you are batting, bowling or fielding, you make decisions when you are in play and the rest of the team must support you. 

It also applies to the technical aspects of your game. Every player knows his own weaknesses and it’s up to him to improve on them.

If everyone does all of that, I can’t see us losing the series.  I am looking forward to seeing what happens at The Wanderers.  South Africa will have the upper edge being 1 up, but never underestimate the Australians.

THE POWERADE CHOSEN ONE for this week has to debutant Vernon Philander for his sterling bowling performance.  He is derinitely my Powerade Chosen One

POWERADE HYDRATION TIP - Exercise can cause the body to lose between 300ml and 2000ml of essential fluids per hour during exercise. Help replace your lost fluids with Powerade.

Makhaya Ntini Column

The Powerade and The Star Makhaya Ntini Column will contunue this Saturday on this blog as well as The Star Newspaper and www.iol.co.za.

POWERADE CHOSEN COLUMN 1 – MAKHAYA NTINI

I’m really excited about the upcoming Test series against Australia.

Playing the Aussies has always been something special, for me and for all of us really.

I made my international debut against Australia back in 1998 and, since then I have played against them at the World Cup, in T20 games, one-dayers and Test matches and they have all been among the toughest games I’ve ever played.

There’s something about the Australian team that has made them consistently the best in the world and beating them has always been something special.

They have a mental toughness that is always very difficult to get through, but it goes further than that. They have somehow always been one step ahead of us at just about everything about the game. For example, they are always first when it comes to new developments in kit and equipment. But they also have the best training techniques, the best nutritional advice and the best in scientific support.

The result was that they always seemed to have more quality players than the other countries did. I always felt we were playing catchup, but that was never a reason to just lie down and let them beat us. In the matches we played I always felt it brought out the best in us, and that made beating them, whenever we managed to do that, so much sweeter.

For me personally, I always wanted to test myself against the best around. So, bowling to players like Steve Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting and Matthew Haden was what I wanted to do.

Every Test wicket I took was special, but getting those guys out was, for me, a sign that I was on the top of my game.

I’ve been busy since my retirement from international cricket in January and I am still very involved with the game, playing for the Eastern Cape Warriors in all formats of the game. It’s always been my philosophy that I would not play unless I was 100% fit and I think that has contributed to me being relatively injury-free throughout my career.

That’s my advice to all sportsmen, in fact, there’s no point in playing if you aren’t physically at your best. So I’ve been training as hard as ever, and if you ask me whether I have regrets that I’m not going to be bowling to these Aussies I would have to say no.

I had a long and successful international career – I took 390 Test wickets - but I always said that when I walk away from it I will have no regrets and I don’t.

But of course I’m right behind the boys and I’ve been following the tour so far with interest.

I don’t think it’s true to say the limited overs games has been a failure for us. The performance of the team in the T20 game at the Wanderers and in the ODI in PE showed that we have high quality players, capable of brilliant cricket.

I think it’s just a matter of putting it all together at the right time, and there are signs that that’s happening now.

You have to remember that the players never had much cricket going into the tour. There’s a new coach, and they only got together three days before the first game. Some were in India, where conditions are completely different, some were training but not playing matches back home and some were injured.

So there were signs of rustiness in the limited overs games and it’s true to say that we made a slow start, with bat and ball in most of them. But when we were good, we were very good.

That’s a sign that the quality is still there, we just have to put it together consistently.

Roll on the Tests, I can’t wait.

POWERADE HYDRATION TIP - Exercise can cause the body to lose between 300ml and 2000ml of essential fluids per hour during exercise. Help replace your lost fluids with Powerade.