KFC MINI-CRICKET COACH OF THE MONTH FOR MARCH - NOMATHEMBISA CUKWANA

Each month a special individual within the KFC Mini-Cricket programme is awarded with the KFC Mini-Cricket Coach of the Month Award. Nomathembisa Cukwana, a teacher at Qhiphu Senior Primary School in Tabankulu, is March’s winner after being recognised as an exemplary mentor to the young cricketers in the Kei cricket region.

Originally very involved in coaching netball, Nomathembisa was introduced to the game of cricket by Kenneth Sixhwaru, a friend of hers who noticed her unique leadership potential early on. “He saw how popular I was with the netball girls and thought that I could bring the same kind of motivation and inspiration into cricket to help kids get active.”, said Nomathembisa when asked how she was introduced into the KFC Mini-Cricket programme.

Nomanthembisa is one of over 7 000 volunteer coaches who are finding new and interesting ways to get kids involved in cricket, providing that vital first step in Cricket South Africa’s pipeline to the Proteas. This vital role is of course not without its challenges. Challenges that Nomanthembisa is mindful of and addresses accordingly; “Kids are usually very energetic and tend to lose attention fast. Role playing is one of the biggest elements I use in order to make sure that I get kids active in cricket. We sometimes create games where the kids get to play as their favourite cricketing heroes before training, or even a match.”, says Nomanthembisa who sees the merits in  dealing with the kids on a personal level.

Prior to getting involved in the KFC Mini-Cricket programme, Nomanthembisa had never played any form of cricket. Her love of sport and inquisitiveness however, led her to join the Khaya Majola Kei Cricket Workshops, where she got to learn the ins and outs of the game.

From this sound foundation, Nomanthembisa also believes that much can be learned from watching the game’s big names live on the field. Her Proteas heroes are AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla, two players whose techniques and abilities she monitors closely in order to provide more to her KFC Mini-Cricketers.

With 16 Provincial KFC Mini-Cricket festivals held annually throughout South Africa along with countless other smaller festivals, over 100 000 boys and girls from over 4 500 schools are benefitting from the efforts of passionate individuals like Nomanthembisa.

Though she is just one person in this programme, her passion and drive to include others has seen her acquire two assistants at Qhiphhu Senior Primary School who are following in her footsteps. “I have proven to them that if you are willing to try hard and work at something that you are passionate in, you can make a difference.”, says Nomanthembisa reflecting on her efforts that led to this unique award which she considers the highlight of her coaching career thus far.

Together with the title of KFC Mini-Cricket Coach of the Month, Nomanthembisa also receives a trophy, a cap and KFC vouchers worth R1 000. A well deserved prize for someone who like KFC, believes that through Mini-Cricket, many children are able to live active lifestyles. Lifestyles that are helping kids fulfill their natural potentials and enjoy a better tomorrow. 

KFC MINI-CRICKET COACH OF THE MONTH FOR FEBRUARY - RENEY BOTHA

Reney Botha, from Bongolethu Primary school, is the February KFC Mini-Cricket Coach of the month winner. An educator at the school located in Oudtshoorn, she is a fine example of how the KFC Mini-Cricket programme is making a difference in all communities around the country, whereby dedicated volunteers like herself do outstanding work in getting kids active while developing a love for cricket.

Reney is one of over 7 000 volunteer coaches providing that vital first step in Cricket South Africa’s pipeline to the Proteas. With 16 Provincial KFC Mini-Cricket festivals held annually throughout South Africa along with countless other smaller festivals, over 100 000 boys and girls from over 4 500 schools are benefitting from the efforts of people like Reney.

 

Back in 2006, Reney accompanied the Bongolethu Primary school to a Mini-Cricket festival in Oudtshoorn, and from that day has been fully involved in the programme. Since then she has taken great pride in her role in the programme; “My role is to build a solid foundation and create a realistic change to all kids with a brighter future in cricket circles”, says Reney.

 

The focus of getting more and more kids involved and active is something that Reney, and indeed the KFC Mini-Cricket programme, have in common. The programme includes primary school boys between the ages of four and ten as well as primary school girls between the ages of four and thirteen. Differently-abled kids are also included, just with a larger focus being placed on hand-eye coordination, ball catching skills and basics of the game.

 

“It is important for me as a coach at my school to see that all the children involved get an equal opportunity to participate in the KFC Mini-Cricket Programme”, says Reney further echoing one of the great fundamentals of the programme.

 

Reney feels that the KFC Mini-Cricket Programme is currently the best sporting code at her school, little wonder then that players benefitting from it during the time of her involvement have gone on to be selected for zonal, regional as well as provincial age group teams.

 

In recognition for the hard work and success Reney has enjoyed, together with the title of KFC Mini-Cricket Coach of the Month she also receives a trophy, a cap and a KFC gift voucher worth R1 000. A well deserved prize for someone that shares the mindset of KFC, that through KFC Mini-Cricket many children are able to live active lifestyles. Lifestyles where cricket and camaraderie shape the way towards a brighter future.

 

PARTICIA MATIMBE IS THE KFC MINI-CRICKET COACH OF THE MONTH FOR JULY

Patricia Matimbe of the Mamelodi region is the KFC Mini-Cricket Coach of the Month for July.

Patricia is an administrative assistant and is a KFC Mini-Cricket coach and coordinator at Mogale Primary School. She holds a level 1 coaching qualification and has been involved in the programme since 1990.

She was recruited into the programme by Emily Vuma, the Mamelodi Area Coordinator and would recommend her as administrator of the month because of the hard work that Emily has put in over the last 25 years.

Patricia’s involvement in cricket began when she started to wonder where the South African players she was watching on TV came from.

“My favorite player was Jaques Kallis. I liked the way he both bowls and bats,” she says. “When I became more involved and I began to understand that the Protea players also belong to teams like the Nashua Titans, Cape Cobra, Lions, etc. I started to engage myself with Nashua Titans because it was our home team.

“It was then that I realised that I love the game. KFC Mini-Cricket was introduced to our school, and with the help of the principal, we started the programme, and it was successful. It's then that we met Mrs Emily Vuma, the coordinator of Mamelodi Area, and I became more involved and committed.”

“In 2005 our under-11 and under-13 teams beat all the schools in our province and I was invited to the National Seminar because of the job I had done. The seminar was in Bethlehem in the Free State and there I met many dedicated teachers from different provinces, people that I share the same passion with, we shared views, ideas and had lots of fun.”

Patricia also became involved in girls cricket at Mamelodi Cricket Club as a team manager, and was appointed as the Northerns under-16 girls team manager in 2008. Dane Van Niekerk who is currently playing for the SA Women’s team was in her team.

Three of the cricketers that she has coached have received bursaries to further their studies at Cornwall Hill College through Northerns Cricket Union.

“Most of our learners are from disadvantaged areas, and their parents are very supportive. I try to involve them in assisting me so that they can understand what the game of cricket is all about,” Patricia says.

The school provides transport so that the pupils can attend Titans and National team matches to broaden their cricket knowledge and become involved in the cricket culture.

“I would like to thank our principal, Mr Mathabathe, the educators at the school and the parents for letting me use their children to participate in cricket,” Patricia says. “My aim is to involve more parents in the development areas and to help the learners to become more efficient and effective, through the game of cricket.”

The purpose of KFC Mini-Cricket is to get as many children as possible onto the cricket field to live active and balanced lifestyles.  There is nothing more exciting than a game of cricket with friends and the thrill of bowling someone out, hitting a six and taking that vital catch while having fun.

During the 2011/12 season the programme grew by 20 percent and now over 100 000 kids are getting active by getting into KFC Mini-Cricket.  Credit must go to the over 7 000 volunteer coaches in the programme who generously give their time and skills to ensure that the children from over 4 500 schools that participate can be coached 365-days a year. 

For more information or to register your school for KFC Mini-Cricket log on to www.kfc.co.za/minicricket or contact CSA at (011) 880 2810.