Get into Action, Get into KFC Mini-Cricket

KFC launched its third year of involvement in the KFC Mini-Cricket programme at a festival held at Sacred Heart College, Observatory with 250 kids getting active on the field. KFC partnered with Cricket South Africa (CSA) in 2010 with the aim of reaching as many children as possible between the ages of 3 and 13 to promote an active and balanced lifestyle.

The focus thisseason will be the KFC Mini-Cricket kids ambassador search which will get kids encouraging other kids to join the programme and for kids already in the programme to play more frequently. Last year the KFC Mini-Cricket programme grew from 83 000 kids to over 100 000 kids playing in the programme.“This season we will ensure that we maintain and improve the quality of cricket played by the children and will continue to encourage enrolment. A main focus for this season will be the growth of KFC Mini-Cricket into rural communities.”Niels Momberg, Youth Cricket Manager at CSA.

The KFC Mini-Cricket kids ambassador search will take place at the 16 provincial festivals with live audition areas where the most charismatic and energetic children will be chosen to be ambassadors for the programme.  These ambassadors will work with KFC’s Mini-Cricket ambassador AB de Villiers to get more kids playing cricket.

AB De Villiers has been an ambassador of KFC Mini-Cricket since 2010 and is an inspiration to the kids involved.  “Everyone needs an introduction into a particular sport and we couldn’t ask for a better way than to be involved in KFC Mini-Cricket. I believe this season will entice even more kids into the programme and I bet it will unearth some characters as ambassadors.  I will have to work hard to keep my position as the ambassador.”

Chief Marketing Officer of KFC, Dave Timm, said of the new campaign:  “We are immensely proud of our involvement with KFC Mini-Cricket and what we have achieved to date and this season will be even more entertaining for the kids.  KFC encourages active and balanced lifestyles for children and each season we look at ensuring that the kids have fun outdoors.”

Former Proteas player Neil McKenzie and his wife Kerry,together with their two kids attended the launch in support of the programme.  “Cricket has had a major and wonderful impact on my life, and will continue to do so and both Kerry and I want our kids to develop a love for the game as early as possible.  Who knows, perhaps my son and daughter will one day be professionals like their father and grand-father!”

The 2012/13 KFC Mini-Cricket season promises to be an unforgettable one and both KFC and CSA have committed to continuing to build the programme well into the future.

 

EX GAUTENG CRICKETER, JOHNSON MAFA, WINS AWARD FOR COACHING KFC MINI CRICKETERS

Johnson Mafa, ex Gauteng Strikers provincial cricketer, has been named the KFC Mini-Cricket Coach of the Month for June. The award is in recognition of the hard work and dedication towards the volunteer coaches programme.

For 10 years Mafa has been coaching youngsters in the Rockville and Moroka area in Soweto.  “It is fantastic to be rewarded for hard work,” said Mafa.  “I am no longer playing professional cricket so can really focus on my KFC Mini-Cricket programme and the next step is to get more schools involved.”

Mafa currently coaches two schools in the area (Isaacson and Molalatladi Primary Schools) and his aim is to reach the other 10.  “Cricket and children are my greatest loves and that is why I started coaching mini-cricket 10 years ago,during my free time, and now that I have given up the competitive game, my focus will be to grow cricket in Soweto.”

While Mafa, who played for the Gauteng Strikers from 1999 until 2012, has not produced a player that has gone on to compete professionally, he says that it is the little characters he coaches that drive him.  “It gives me such pleasure to see the enthusiasm and funny things the kids do.  We have such laughs sometimes,”

But there are also challenging situations that Mafa has to manage and he uses cricket to teach life skills, family values and to build confidence by giving his players a sense of belonging. “Sport is unique in that not only is it fun, but through sport kids can learn a host of life skills that help them develop into well balanced and happy adults.”

Mafa singles out one particular player: “I have a 10 year old, Bafana Mfaba who lost his parents when he was very young and now lives with his aunt.  He is such an inspiration to all the other children.  He walks five kilometres to and from the programme, which is based at his school, but he is always half an hour early and is the last to go home.  He is passionate about cricket and his goal is to one day play professionally.  The other children call him ‘coach’ resulting from his dedication and his seriousness.  He even disciplines the other children if they fool around.”

Cricket is a growing sport in the townships and rural areas, but there is still a long way to go. It’s the desire to have all South Africans, at every social and economic level active and balanced that keeps KFC inspired to support KFC Mini-Cricket. 

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.  The kudos must go to the6 000 volunteer coaches in the programme who generously give their time and skills to ensure that the children from over 3 500 schools that participate can be coached 365-days a year.