KFC Mini-Cricket Kids from Tygerberg Cricket Club debut at the Mzansi Super League

The Tygerberg Cricket Club is synonymous with producing some of SA’s top cricket talent. The Tygerberg Cricket Club has produced four Proteas: Vernon Philander, Alfonso Thomas, Shabnim Ismail and Shandre Fritz. In 2012 the club became the first ever to have both the men’s and women’s cricketers of the year emerge from its ranks, when Vernon and Shandre were awarded these honours. To continue the trend of giving prospective talent an opportunity to step on the global crease, the KFC Mini-Cricket Kids conducted their ball boy and girl duties at the inaugural Mzansi Super League’s opening game at the PPC Newlands Cricket stadium. This was when the Cape Cobras took on the Tshwane Spartans, in efforts to keep kids active and educated about the game of cricket. 

The club mirrors Cricket South Africa’s pipeline plans in that the kids are introduced to cricket through the KFC Mini-Cricket programme, then they progress to hard ball cricket and into the senior game. The Tygerberg Cricket Club uses KFC Mini-Cricket programme to help kids familiarise themselves with cricket and teach youngsters basic life lessons which can be applied both on and off the field. 

The main aim of KFC Mini Cricket is to provide the game of cricket in its simplest form to young boys and girls while making it enjoyable to learn the foundation of a lifelong interest in cricket, to develop self-confidence and ball skills that will be useful in other sports. 

The Tygerberg Cricket Club was established in 1957 in Ravensmead and has become one of CSA’s regional professional performance centres (RPC), running their hubs programme. Tygerberg Cricket Club manages seven hubs namely Khayelitsha, Langa, Victoria, Saint Augustine’s, Primrose, Mitchell’s Plain and Helderberg. 

Cricketers from the age of four to senior men and ladies play there. The club was crowned Club of the Year for the 2013/2014 season and was named as a Regional Centre of Excellence by the Western Province Cricket Association. 

For more information on KFC Mini-Cricket visit www.kfcminicricket.co.za  or contact CSA at (011) 880 - 2810

Central Gauteng KFC Mini-Cricket Kids Captivated by Heroes at the Mzansi Super League

KFC has joined the exciting inaugural Mzansi Super League (MSL) as proud sponsors of the tournament’s ball boys and girls. Kids all around the country are getting to meet their heroes up close and it has been a phenomenal experience for them.

Decovan Olien and his KFC Mini-cricket friends from central Gauteng got to meet West Indies superstar Chris Gayle when the Jozi Stars played against the Nelson Mandela Bay Giants. “It’s the first time I have experienced something like this, the best part of today was meeting my heroes especially Chris Gayle.” Decovan said.

KFC Mini-Cricket player Kamogelo Nkomo, has been a ball girl once before and she really wanted to be a ball girl again and meet more of her heroes. “I had so much fun meeting my heroes, they inspire me to work hard to achieve my goals. I really enjoyed being a ball girl. I had fun with the cricket fans who cheered for me and some of them told me that I was the best ball girl at the stadium. I love KFC Mini-Cricket.”

KFC Mini-Cricket all-rounder, Keagan van der Walt got so many signatures from the players and he will ask his father to frame his shirt and put it up in his bedroom. His favourite player is Chris Gayle and he was so happy that he got to meet him and get his autograph.

Kumo Modibedi a KFC Mini-Cricket player from central Gauteng, said it was a lot of fun, “We were right there on the cricket field fielding the ball to the players. I was very nervous when I got onto the field but once the game started I forgot that I was nervous and I started enjoying myself. I would love to do this again,” he said.

Through the KFC Mini-Cricket programme, KFC has managed to offer kids with the critical building blocks to learn cricketing basics and entrenching important life lessons. The programme allows teachers at schools to offer a cricket sporting programme, even with basic fields and facilities. This is to make sure that kids are playing their way, getting active and that the educational lessons of commitment to participation are learnt and adopted way beyond just the game.

Schools and teams across the country can get involved in the KFC Mini-Cricket programme by visiting www.kfc.co.za/minicricket  

Fairways Primary School KFC Mini-Cricket Kids meet their heroes at the Mzansi Super League

KFC has joined the exciting Mzansi Super League (MSL) as proud sponsors of the tournament’s ball boys and girls. Kids all around the country are getting the opportunity to meet their cricket heroes up close and it has been an unforgettable experience for each of the boys and girls.

The KFC Mini-Cricket kids from Fairways Primary School from Johannesburg made it well known that being ball boys and girls was just as exciting meeting their biggest cricketing heroes, Kagiso Rabada and Dale Steyn. Not only did they get to rub shoulders with their heroes but were also given autographs.

KFC Mini-Cricket player, Zoe Chetty, was blown away by the experience of getting to meet her heroes, “My favourite part of today was meeting and getting a hug from my heroes Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada. I told Dale and Kagiso that they were my favourite cricket players. When I see my friends that do not play KFC Mini-Cricket I will tell them about my day and encourage them to play KFC Mini-Cricket if they want to experience something as cool as this.”

KFC Mini-Cricket player, Faroula Abdul, said, “The whole experience was absolutely amazing, just being here was amazing plus it was fun being a ball girl because I learnt a lot from watching the game. I met Kagiso Rabada, Quinton de Kock and so many other players and they make me want to be just like them when I grow up.”

Khushi Chahar, felt that her experience was better than a first class experience, “It was great to get to meet and see our heroes close to us. Getting to meet Kagiso Rabada and getting a huge hug from one of my heroes was amazing. I would love to do this again and I am so happy that I love KFC Mini-Cricket so much.”

For more information on KFC Mini-Cricket visit www.kfcminicricket.co.za  or contact CSA at (011) 880 - 2810