School Sports and Where is it now Episode 3

 

Mthatha school in KFC Mini-Cricket Kids vs Proteas Tour decider

KFC Mini-Cricket Kids from Lugxogxo Junior Secondary School will host the Proteas in the KFC Mini-Cricket Kids vs Proteas Tour decider at the Khaya Majola Cricket Oval in Mthatha on the 27^th March.

Following a thrilling start to the 5^th edition of the KFC Mini-Cricket Kids vs Proteas Tour, which has seen the KFC Mini Cricket Kids and Proteas win one match apiece, the outing for both teams in the Eastern Cape is set to is to provide fireworks in the winner-takes-all clash.

The Proteas men and women team will play against the KFC Mini-Cricket kids in what will be considered an away game even though it is within the borders of South Africa, as the kids will have many supporters from their school and some of the neighbouring schools from Mthatha. 

“We are very excited that the tour is sitting at 1-all with the final match being the decider,” said Thabisa Mkhwanazi, Public Affairs Director for KFC South Africa. “At KFC we are fully committed to the development of our country’s young cricketers through the KFC Mini-Cricket programme. It gives us immense joy to see young cricketers receive the opportunity to meet and play against their heroes. I wish the KFC Mini-Cricket kids from Lugxogxo Junior Secondary School all the best of luck in their match against the Proteas. I’m confident they will do us proud.”

On 22 March Protea legend and KFC Mini-Cricket assistant coach, Mfuneko Ngam will facilitate a full training session with the KFC Mini-Cricket kids from Lugxogxo at their school, where he will spend time working on the various skills that the kids will need to take on and go one up against the Proteas.

Ngam believes that the KFC Mini-Cricket programme continues to assist the kids develop their game and expects the KFC Mini-Cricket kids to be well prepared for the match. “This is the third time that the Kei region will host the KFC Mini-Cricket Kids vs Proteas match and in the previous two matches we have been blessed with kids that can play cricket very well. I expect that this time will be no different and that the kids will be well prepared so all I need to do is tweak their game and then encourage them so when they play against the Proteas they can focus on the game and maximise on the opportunity to meet their heroes.”

The KFC Mini-Cricket Kids vs Proteas Tour is currently sitting at 1-1 overall, with 2 tours having been drawn. This match doesn’t only decide the fate of the 2017/18 series but also decides who will take a 2-1 lead in the tour.

{ENDS}

Media Contact

Shawn Belluigi

Email: shawn@intunecom.co.za

About the KFC Mini-Cricket Kids v Proteas Tour

For the fifth year KFC will run a national competition where KFC Mini-Cricket kids will stand the chance to play against the Proteas in the KFC Mini-Cricket Kids vs Proteas Tour.

Kids can enter online (www.kfcminicricket.co.za) or via USSD (*120*7535#).

The winners will be rewarded with a prize handover, a full day training session and a game against the Proteas, all assisted by KFC Min-Cricket coaches, Graeme Smith and Mfuneko Ngam.

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. 

There are currently over 120 000 kids from over 5078 schools active in the KFC Mini-Cricket programme who are coached by nearly 9268 volunteers.

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 and an associate sponsor of the RAM Slam T20 Challenge.

KFC has recently renewed its Mini-Cricket sponsorship for a further 10 years, taking the partnership through to 2025.

Log on to www.kfcminicricket.co.za or contact CSA at (011) 880 2810 for more info on KFC Mini-Cricket.

KFC Mini-Cricket Kids from Ekurhuleni take on the Proteas in the 5th Edition of the KFC Mini-Cricket Kids vs Proteas Tour

The long-awaited KFC Mini-Cricket Kids vs Proteas Tour is upon us and KFC and Cricket South Africa (CSA) are proud to announce that the Proteas are ready to meet Abinala Primary School on the 19^th February 2018 at their school in Vosloorus, Gauteng. Whatever the outcome of the match, the day promises to be full of fun and excitement.

The Proteas, who have just taken on the world number 1 test team in a thrilling test series, are looking to keep their momentum going against the KFC Mini-Cricket kids but this time they will be playing away from home as the match will be hosted by the school.

Thabisa Mkhwanazi, Public Affairs Director for KFC South Africa said, “At KFC we are fully committed to the development of our country’s young cricketers. The KFC Mini-Cricket Kids vs Proteas Tour matches are always a special occasion, giving young cricketers the once in a lifetime opportunity to not only meet, but to play against their heroes. I wish the KFC Mini-Cricket kids from Abinala the best of luck in their first game and I am confident they will do us proud.”

KFC has upped the level of the KFC Mini-Cricketers’ preparations by getting both Graeme Smith and Mfuneko Ngam to resume their roles as the KFC Mini-Cricket assistant coaches. The former Proteas legends will hold a full training session with the team, where they will spend time working on the various skills that the kids will need to beat the Proteas.

Former Proteas captain, Graeme Smith, who will assist the kids with their batting and fielding skills, points out that since this year’s tournament will only consist of three matches there will be a winner and the Proteas will want to win the series.

“The Proteas cricket team play to win, so this year the team will be even better prepared than before. Mfuneko and I are up for the challenge and it is our job to make sure that natural abilities of the kids will shine through,” said Smith.

Ex Proteas fast bowler, Mfuneko Ngam, believes that KFC have taken the tour to another level with the more intensive training sessions. “In the previous years we did well with the 2-hour training sessions but this year we are taking it to another level where Graeme and I can dedicate ourselves to individual aspects of the game, and this will give the kids more personalised training. Together with KFC and CSA, we hope to enrich the kids’ natural abilities and help them enjoy their cricket even more,” said Ngam.

Historically, the KFC Mini-Cricket Kids vs Proteas Tour has been a tight affair with both teams having won one tour apiece and the 2015/16 and the 2016/17 tours both ending in a 2-2 draw. 

Schools or cricket club’s KFC Mini-Cricket teams can still stand a chance to take on the Proteas in the KFC Mini-Cricket Kids vs Proteas Tour, by simply dialling *120*7535# or visiting www.kfc.co.za/minicricket now to enter!

{ENDS}

Media Contact

Shawn Belluigi

Tel: 083 675 4338

Email: shawn@intunecom.co.za

About the KFC Mini-Cricket Kids v Proteas Tour

For the fifth year KFC will run a national competition where KFC Mini-Cricket kids will stand the chance to play against the Proteas in the KFC Mini-Cricket Kids vs Proteas Tour.

Kids can enter online (www.kfcminicricket.co.za) or via USSD (*120*7535#).

The winners will be rewarded with a prize handover, a full day training session and a game against the Proteas, all assisted by KFC Min-Cricket coaches, Graeme Smith and Mfuneko Ngam.

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. 

There are currently over 120 000 kids from over 5078 schools active in the KFC Mini-Cricket programme who are coached by nearly 9268 volunteers.

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 and an associate sponsor of the RAM Slam T20 Challenge.

KFC has recently renewed its Mini-Cricket sponsorship for a further 10 years, taking the partnership through to 2025.

Log on to www.kfcminicricket.co.za or contact CSA at (011) 880 2810 for more info on KFC Mini-Cricket.

KZN Hosts Fast Bowler Search

Audi, CSA and Ngam scout local bowling talent

7 October 2017. Durban.  The search for South Africa’s next great fast bowler continued today when the Audi Q5 Fast Track visited Chatsworth.  The initiative, which is led by Audi, Cricket South Africa (CSA) and former Proteas quick and development guru, Mfuneko Ngam, is the first designed to utilise state-of-the-art technology to unearth the hidden gems of South African fast blowing.  It is currently taking place around the country and today identified a number of talented local young bowlers who will now be given the chance to prove themselves in front of CSA’s development structures. 

Lead talent scout Mfuneko Ngam, commented, “Our first events in Gauteng and Eastern Cape were resounding successes and today was no different.  I have been very impressed by the level of talent we have uncovered so far.  We are very excited at the prospect of one of these young bowlers following in the footsteps of the great Proteas bowlers who came before them.”

On the day, local bowlers between the ages of 15 and 18 were given the opportunity to showcase their talent in front of a powerful development team.  Bowlers were given the chance to illustrate their skills in the nets with the most promising selected to have their bowling measured on the Audi Bowling Lab - a set-up which utilises state-of-the-art PitchVision technology to instantly analyse a bowler’s performance by comparing pace, line, length, deviation and bounce to that of a current Proteas bowler.

Ngam and his team, which included CSA representatives and local coaches, utilised the scoring system of the Audi Bowling Lab to select the talented boys and girls who will now be put in front of CSA development structures.  The standout bowlers on the day were Kovilan Pillay from Chatsworth and Xolani Shezi, from KwaNdengezi.  

Trevor Hill, Head of Audi South Africa, concluded, “Today continued our search for standout fast bowlers and Durban did not disappoint.  As Progressive Partner to the Proteas, Audi is proud to be able to take our partnership with CSA to the next level by driving progress in a development space.  The prospect of potentially uncovering the next Ntini or Ngam, together with CSA, is something we are not only excited by but which we are striving towards.”

For more information on the Audi Q5 Fast Track go to https://nowiscalling.co.za/fast-track.

Video Clip with an Interview with Mfuneko Ngam: