Great Excitement as the KFC Mini-Cricket Provincial Festivals resume for the 2021/22 season

 

KFC Mini-Cricket Provincial Festivals resume for the 2021/22 season

 

 

South Africa’s leading cricket development programme - KFC Mini-Cricket, is set to resume when the provincial festivals kick-off on 18th February across the country.

 

The season restart coincides with the 12^th anniversary of KFC’ sponsorship of the Mini-Cricket programme that provides an enjoyable but more importantly, safe environment for the kid to get active and have fun.

 

The KFC Mini-Cricket programme has touched the hearts of many communities as it introduces kids not only to the fundamentals of cricket, but also to traits and values to become the best versions of themselves. It forms a critical foundation step in the development of South Africa’s future cricketing heroes and is the first step in Cricket South Africa’s ‘pipeline to the Proteas.’

                                                                                                                                                            

The KFC Mini-Cricket 2020-21 campaign was an unorthodox one, as the programme had to adapt to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The usual blockbuster festival had to be scaled down into a series of smaller activations and the annual seminars, which usually attract the top Mini-Cricket volunteers and administrators in one venue, had to be hosted virtually.

 

However, with the country’s lockdown restrictions being reduced to level 1, the programme organisers are thrilled to bring smiles once again to the kids by allowing them to do what they love, playing the game of cricket.

 

“We are really excited that we can host provincial festivals again. Like everything else in South Africa, the programme was heavily affected by the pandemic and through our season theme of “Imvuselelo” or “Recovery” we are looking forward to continuing our journey back to normality by hosting the festivals,” said KFC CSI Manager Andra Ferreira Nel.

 

Through the help and hard work of the KFC Mini-Cricket coaches and coordinators, the kids will once again get an opportunity to play their favourite sport and create new friendships and unforgettable moments of laughter on the field in a more safe and secure way.

 

“These inspiring individuals epitomise all that is great about South Africa. Their selfless dedication allows the programme to be all-inclusive and teach the kids important life skills whilst they get active in a fun and healthy way by playing a sport that they love. They champion the spirit of community by keeping the Mini Cricket fire burning in their corners of our country and we could not be more proud to partner with them for the coming season,” continued Ferreira Nel.

 

However, safety is still an important factor in ensuring a safe and secure environment for the Mini-Cricketers while they showcase their talent on the field.

 

“We are excited to resume the 2021/22 KFC Mini-Cricket season. However, we are still aware that the pandemic has not ended, and safety will still be a priority with all protocols still having to be observed in the upcoming seminars and festivals,” reassured CSA Mass participation manager David Mokopanele.

 

“The majority of our administrators and volunteers have been vaccinated. We hope this will go a long way towards increasing the safety within the KFC Mini-Cricket season, allowing us to get more kids active for a sustained period this season,” Mokopanele concluded.

 

Since the inception of the programme, a total number of 2.5 million kids have played KFC Mini-Cricket and over 120 players have gone on to represent various national teams. And over 6 600 schools across the country joined the programme.

 

 

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. 

 

In the previous full season, 2019/20 there were over 126 000 kids from over 6600 schools active in the KFC Mini-Cricket programme who are coached by over 13 600 volunteer coaches. Year on year there are a minimum of 45 000 matches played each year. 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.

 

 

Date		Event
18-Feb	Friday	Mpumalanga
05-Mar	Saturday	SWD
11-Mar	Friday	Western Province
12-Mar	Saturday	Boland
16-Mar	Wednesday	Kei
17-Mar	Thursday	Border
19-Mar	Saturday	EP
30-Mar	Wednesday	Limpopo
08-Apr	Friday	Northern Cape
09-Apr	Saturday	Free-State
22-Apr	Friday	KZN Inland
23-Apr	Saturday	KZN Coastal
29-Apr	Friday	Easterns
30-Apr	Saturday	CGL

KFC Mini-Cricket Festival: Rosebank & Alexandra - 14 May 2021

 

The boys and girls are back on the cricket field and getting active again! The KFC Mini-Cricket programme hosted two successful KFC Mini-Cricket festivals in Gauteng on Friday, 14 May. 

 

In a fun-filled day, KFC along with Cricket South Africa (CSA) and the Central Gauteng Lions (CGL) visited Rosebank Primary School in Rosebank and MC Weiler Primary School in Alexandra, bringing with them the CSA mascot ZAC,  CGL fast bowling legend, Johnson Mafa and former Proteas bowler, Garnett Kruger.

 

“This programme just reminds me of where I was a number of years ago, as a kid, and to where I am now as an professional ex-cricketer. The experiences that I had from being a player, it all started here…playing cricket in the street and on the field.

 

“These initiatives that KFC and CSA are doing are bringing dreams to a reality. Giving kids an opportunity to dream of becoming a cricketer one day. It’s also brilliant of KFC to bring these activations to the township,” Kruger commented.

 

For more information on the KFC Mini-Cricket programme visit https://order.kfc.co.za/minicricket/minicrickethome.

 

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Image List (With Captions):

 

Rosebank Primary School:

 

• Cricket South Africa mascot ZAC engaging with KFC Mini-Cricket kids at the KFC Mini-Cricket Festival at Rosebank Primary School on Friday, 14 May 2021 (6)

• CSA mascot ZAC standing at slip as KFC Mini Cricket kids get active again at the KFC Mini-Cricket Festival at Rosebank Primary School on Friday 14 May 2021 (7)

• KFC Mini Cricket kids receive instructions as they prepared for fun and exciting action during the KFC Mini Cricket Festival on Friday, 14 May 2021 (11)

 

MC Weiler Primary School:

• Anele Ngodo from Gordon Primary School learning to master the art of bowling with Gauteng cricket legend Johnson Mafa during KFC Mini Cricket Festival at MC Weiler Primary School on Friday, 14 May 2021 (1)

• Coach Kgomotso Matintela helping Thabang Phiri Ikage Primary School with his positioning at the crease as the KFC Mini-Cricket kids took to the field during the KFC Mini-Cricket Festival at MC Weiler Primary School on Friday, 14 May 2021 (2)

• Kgosiame Monisi from MC Weiler Primary School delivers the perfect ball as the KFC Mini-Cricket kids marked their return to action with the KFC Mini-Cricket Festival at MC Weiler Primary School on Friday, 14 May 2021 (4)

Please note: All images provided are courtesy of Cricket South Africa / Backpages (Sam Shivambu).

KFC Mini-Cricket Regional Festival: Limpopo - 18-19 May 2021

 

It has been over a year in the making but the wait is finally over for aspiring cricketers as the KFC Mini-Cricket programme resumed its on-field action this month and recently held KFC Mini-Cricket Regional Festivals in Limpopo earlier this week

 

Over the two days of socially distanced fun, excitement and promising displays at the crease, Cricket South Africa (CSA) in partnership with KFC visited Phalaborwa on Tuesday, 18 May, where they hosted Rethusitswe Primary and Phondo Primary, along with 68 kids and 22 volunteer coaches.

 

The next day, the festivities moved to Bochum in Polokwane, where a similar number of boys and girls, and their coaches from Rapoho Primary, Mangwoto Primary and Maswene Primary, got to interact with CSA mascot, ZAC as well as Proteas Team Manager, Kgomotso ‘Volvo’ Masubulele – who is originally from Limpopo.

 

These KFC Mini-Cricket Regional Festivals 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 due to the restrictions 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 additional personnel to help facilitate the COVID-19 protocols for each school.

 

CSA’s Mass Participation Coordinator, Buhle Motshegoa is pleased with how the Limpopo-leg of the KFC Mini-Cricket Regional Festivals went, highlighting the immense passion for the game that exists, as well as the bright talent on show in the province. A province that produced the likes of former Proteas Women’s star, Mercia Letsoalo, Titans coach, Mandla Mashimbyi and legendary South African fast bowler, Dale Steyn.

 

“We are extremely happy that the 2020/21 KFC Mini-Cricket season was able to get underway in the form of the Regional Festivals and that we once again get to see our mini cricketers and coaches play with smiles on their faces,” Motshegoa commented.

 

“As soon as we arrived in Phalaborwa, you could sense the positive energy, and passion for the sport in all those involved in making the two-day cricketing spectacle a resounding success, while we adhered to the strict 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.

 

Image List (With Captions):

 

• Paballo Mogofe (Ruthusitwe Primary School) showing great bowling technique as the action heats up during the 2021 KFC Mini Cricket Regional Festival at Ruthusitwe Primary School in Phalaborwa on the 18 May 2021 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

 

• Dumisani Manyama (Thusetso Primary School) getting ready to execute a beautiful pull shot during the 2021 KFC Mini Cricket Regional Festival at Ruthusitwe Primary School in Phalaborwa on the 18 May 2021 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

 

• CSA Mascot ZAC posing with KFC Mini-Cricket team from Rethusitswe Primary after getting active during the 2021 KFC Mini Cricket Regional Festival at Ruthusitwe Primary School in Phalaborwa on the 18 May 2021 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

 

• Volvo Masubelele (CSA Protea Team Manager) coaches Moloko Mapasha (Magwato Primary School) during the 2021 KFC Mini Cricket Activation at Rapoho Primary School in Bochum on the 19 May 2021 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

 

• Issac Senatla (Framework U16 Boys) helping Dimakatso Diala (Rapoho Primary School) with her bowling action during the 2021 KFC Mini Cricket Activation at Rapoho Primary School in Bochum on the 19 May 2021 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

KFC Mini-Cricket impacts communities in Limpopo through intentional integrations

Sponsorship gives brands the opportunity to connect their customers with something they love and are passionate about. For many communities across South Africa, these connections present an opportunity for improvement of their worlds, inspiring unity, hope and potentially making a significant impact on various aspects of everyday life in a tough environment.

A group of children from Giyani, a small town in Limpopo have been offered this kind of opportunity for growth and development through their participation in KFC Mini-Cricket, under the guidance of their coach, Patrick Mabasa, - a teacher by profession.

“Cricket is a calling for me and seeing kids interact through the game, makes my heart smile.” says Mabasa of the root of his passion for the game. “Being part of the KFC Mini-Cricket programme, I simply wanted to encourage children to be active members of the community through sport – one which they’ve grown to love immensely, and which has taken a central role in their lives.”

When asked why coaching is important for developing kids, he says that the lessons learnt both on and off the field of play helps develop tolerance and respect in children and equips them better to recognise and appreciate the differences and similarities between themselves and others.  “This, in effect, encourages social cohesion that can help alleviate some of the harms kids are exposed to in their everyday lives at schools and in their communities,” he says.
Driven by his love for teaching and imparting important life lessons, Mabasa thought it would be great to create a space for children who play KFC Mini-Cricket to have a library in which they can cultivate their knowledge and learn without hindrances. It’s this ability to encourage them to become all-rounders, beyond cricketing, that sets Mabasa apart. With the children gathering diligently after school, Mabasa realised education and sport play a mutually beneficial role in enabling these children to grow into members of society who will make meaningful contributions.

The seamless incorporation of sport and education is a demonstration of how targeted sponsorships in local communities can drive authentic engagement that directly benefits the people – with benefits to the brand as a welcome by-product. KFC remains committed to continuing to make a difference and noteworthy impact in the lives of children throughout South Africa.

Western Province star goes from SAU19 disappointment to Khaya Majola Hero

Western Province bowler Siyabulela Plaaitjie set aside his disappointment at not making the SA 19 team for the ICC U19 World Cup by playing a match-winning role in Western Province's first win against Gauteng since Potchefstroom in 2012.

When he wasn’t picked he was disappointed and looked for guidance from his mentor at Western Province Cricket, Graham October.

Graham told him that he had two options, the first was to feel sorry for himself and to curl up in bed and cry and the second was to go to the Khaya Majola Week and play the best cricket he can play.

Graham left the decision to Siya because it’s one of his policies is to let the boys in his care make their own decisions.

“Graham is like a father figure to me and he always directs me in the right direction, being left out of the world cup side is a real disappointment. He explained my options and I chose to focus on my game and to make sure that I do well and, hopefully,  make the SA Schools team,’ said Siya.

His earlier performances at the Khaya Majola Week had not been up to his high standards until he faced Gauteng in the traditional clash of the titans at the tournament.

Western Province had not beaten Gauteng at the Khaya Majola Week since the ‘main game’ of 2012. Since then they have lost five finals against Gauteng and it was looking as if they were going to lose again at Michaelhouse on Thursday, until Siya bowled an inspired spell that broke the back of the Gauteng run chase.

Siya has always been a fighter, he comes from a very poor single-parent family in Langa, Cape Town, where his mother tries her very best to give him the opportunities that most boys in that area are not able to get.

Through his cricketing ability, Siya created his own opportunities and was spotted at an early age by Western Province Cricket. He has had many mentors at the union including the current Gauteng coach Siyabonga Sibiya who, even though his team lost to Western Province, was one of the first people to congratulate him for his brilliant effort. He was clearly emotional because he knew what Siya had been through to get this far in life.

Graham October was the most emotional. He ran up to embrace the boy that he knows so well and brought tears to the eyes of many of the spectators on the field.

‘Coach Graham helps me out emotionally, financially and with my cricket. It is awesome to have someone like him in my life, along with the other mentors at Western Province cricket who help me,’ said Siya.

Siya is at Wynberg Boys’ High on a bursary, supported by the Western Province Cricket Union and he is part of a truly South African Western Province team in which privileged kids from schools like Bishops can play as equals with a boy like himself, from Langa and they can be friends.

it’s a story is that Khaya Majola would have loved playing. A testament to his vision for the tournament has been named after him.

Siya and Graeme

Oberholzer's Hat-trick Highlight of Day 3 of the Khaya Majola Week

There have been a number of good performances over the first three days of the 2019/20 Khaya Majola Week and day three’s T20 double-headers served up quite a few of them.

There were 11 50s and 4 four-wicket hauls on the day, but the performance that really stood out was Christiaan Oberholzer’s 5/22 against Limpopo. Not only did he take more wickets than anyone else in one innings during the day but he also took the first hat-trick of the tournament in the process of achieving that feat.

Christian was delighted with his bowling performance. ‘The hat-trick came in the 8^th over. We had a decent total and I decided that I wanted to attack so I asked my captain to bring the field in and let me see if I can get a wicket or two.’

‘My captain backed me and allowed me to place my own field. It took me two balls to take the first wicket, the two batsmen had crossed and with the next ball I took the other set batsman, which applied pressure on the new batsman coming in. The next ball snuck under the bat and hit the batsman’s pad and he was given out LBW.’

Christian is only 17 and this is his first Khaya Majola Week so he did not come with too many personal expectations. His main objective was to enjoy the week and to learn as much as possible from the other players in his team and from his coach. He hopes that he will play again in the week next year.

He struggled a little in the first two games that he played but he thinks that his performance with bat and ball on the third day might be the turning point in his week and he will be able to do far better in the rest of the week.

‘Being an all-rounder gives me an opportunity to do well with both bat and ball. After I took 5 wickets and the hat-trick my confidence was up and I managed make a good score to help my team beat Limpopo by 9 wickets,’ said Christian.

The Khaya Majola Cricket Week adds new awards to make the tournament more memorable for the boys

Cricket South Africa and their provincial unions continues to look for new ways that they can improve on the experience at the week for the boys. This year is no exception as the KwaZulu-Natal Inland region adds new awards to the week to make it more memorable for the boys.

Morgan Pillay has been the Tournament Director of the Khaya Majola Cricket Week for the last 23 years in a row and, because the week is always scheduled to incorporate the 16th December holiday, and Morgan’s birthday is on 18^TH December, that means he has not been at home his birthday for almost a quarter of a century.

He’s there again this year as the 2019 week takes place in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal Inland, centred at Michaelhouse, with matches also being played at Hilton College, St Charles, Weston Agricultural school and the Pietermaritzburg Oval 

“The week has always featured the most talented cricketers in the under-19 age group, but many other things have changed since my one as tournament director, in Boksburg in 1996,” he said. “In the process we have created a world class stage that allows all cricketers to showcase their talent. There’s no question that this is the finest high school cricket tournament in the world.”

The boys are being housed at the schools, in luxurious accommodation, with good healthy food and first class facilities. Everything has been sorted so all that the players have to do it play their best cricket, make friends and have a wonderful experience, Pillay said. “All of the schools have gone out of their way to prepare their schools to the best of their abilities to make sure that the tournament runs smoothly.”

There have been a lot of changes to the tournament during Pillay’s time. “For example, when I took over the tournament the umpires and scorers were school children, Now we have qualified umpires and scorers and Cricket South Africa supply a manager to look after the umpires and assessors to make sure that the scorers and umpires do their jobs correctly.”

CSA use the week as training for their scorers and umpires, while providing the players with a top class service. This also creates an incentive for the scorers and the umpires to be at the week.

“The top players from each cricketing region come to the tournament and this allows the boys to measure themselves against their peers from across the country  top boys in other regions,” Pillay said. “This allows the players to meet others who they would not usually get to mix with. They can make friendships that can last for life.”

This year the LOC from KwaZulu-Natal decided that they needed to add something to the tournament that will make the tournament different from the others in the past.

They added the awards for the best bowling and batting performance for each day, they would recognize batsmen with awards for all of the centuries scored and the fastest century of the tournament.

To recognize the bowlers they added awards for all of the 5 wicket hauls and hat-tricks during the week.

Finally they looked at what the tournament means for a lot of the kids and that is making lifelong friendships and enjoying a memorable week so they added a fair play award for the player that was best in playing the game in the spirit of the game.

These awards will be given out at the awards ceremony on Friday evening together with the player of the tournament, the leading wicket taker, the leading run scorer and the best all-rounder awards.