Lenore Ciolli – KFC Mini-Cricket Coach

Retired Rondebosch Boys Primary School Teacher, Lenore Ciolli is one of the longest lasting KFC Mini-Cricket coaches in the country having initiated her KFC Mini-Cricket journey in 1983, the same year that Cricket South Africa started the programme.

In 1983, the then school sports administrator, Mr Pieter Minnar, walked into the staff room and informed the teachers that the school was starting a new cricket programme and he wanted volunteers. Lenore did not know much about cricket but the programme sounded like something exciting so she joined the programme as the schools U9 coach.

Pieter was introduced to the programme by none other than the late Bob Woolmer.

Initially there were only four schools in her area that took part in KFC Mini-Cricket, Rondebosch Primary School, Bishops, SACS and Wynberg, now there are 14 schools with 384 kids that take part.

She has been able to meet some amazing people I her journey. In 1995 she got to meet Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, when they visited the country and went to a KFC Mini-Cricket festival in Langa.

When Gary Kirsten was still a player he used to attend some of the KFC Mini-Cricket Provincial festivals at Newlands. It was always a highlight for the kids and coaches to meet him and get some coaching tips.

When Australia visited South Africa in 1994, Jonty Rhodes and Shane Warne were walking past a festival at Newlands where they saw the kids and stopped to watch the cricket. Needless to say, the kids were so excited to meet their heroes.

Lenore has help the Western Province Cricket union in everything from ticketing to being a team manager. She even serves as the chairperson of the union for a while but she has never strayed from KFC Mini-Cricket. She just loves the sport, loves the kids and enjoys watching children having fun. Her reward is a big smile.

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 114 000 kids from over 5500 schools active in the KFC Mini-Cricket programme who are coached by nearly 9000 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 CSA T20 Challenge.

THE BIGGEST TOUR OF THE SUMMER WRAPS UP IN CAPE TOWN

KFC Mini-Cricket kids looking to secure series win in final KFC Mini-Cricket Kids vs Proteas Tour match at PPC Newlands

 The KFC Mini-Cricket Kids vs Proteas Tour reaches its climax on Thursday, 18 February, at PPC Newlands, with the KFC Mini-Cricket kids taking on the Proteas in the final game of the season.

The KFC Mini-Cricket kids, who will be represented by St Andrews Primary School from Saldanha Bay, will be looking to claim a historical series victory over one of the best limited overs sides in the world.  The Proteas, who will be represented by ICC T20 World Cup squad memebers Kagiso Rabada, David Miller, Imran Tahir and Rilee Rossouw, will be looking to level-up the series after their Duckworth-Lewis victory over the kids in Gauteng. 

Former Protea and South Africa’s most successful captain, Graeme Smith, will be taking over from compatriots Mfuneko Ngam and Neil McKenzie as coach of the KFC Mini-Cricket team. After his  first training session held today with the team at St Andrews Primary, Graeme spoke of his pride in the kids, “Win or lose, the KFC Mini-Cricket kids should be immensely proud of their performances this season.  To go up against the Proteas and be in a position where, going into the last game, they cannot lose the series, is an amazing achievement.  As a team we cannot wait for the game and I have full confidence that it will be the KFC Mini-Cricket kids holding the trophy aloft come Thursday afternoon at Newlands.”

Mike Middleton, Chief Marketing Officer for KFC South Africa, added his praise of the kids’ performances, “The KFC Mini-Cricket kids have done KFC proud!  No matter the result of the final match, I would like to congratulate all the KFC Mini-Cricket teams who have taken part in the KFC Mini-Cricket Kids vs Proteas Tour this season.  We at KFC are proud of the fact that we are able to get kids active and closer to their heroes. I wish both the KFC Mini-Cricket kids and the Proteas luck for the final match in what has no doubt been our most successful KFC Mini-Cricket Kids vs Proteas Tour season to date.”

The Proteas will be looking for a win in the final game as a momentum builder ahead of a key period in their season which includes KFC T20 Internationals against England and Australia before heading to India for the ICC World T20. 

Star Proteas bowler Kagiso Rabada commented, “The KFC Mini-Cricket kids have been tough opponents this season.  We definitely won’t be underestimating them on Thursday.  The Proteas have had a brilliant time taking part in the KFC Kids vs Proteas Tour and we can’t wait to follow the progress of the KFC Mini-Cricket kids. ”

The Proteas will play St Andrews Primary School on 18 February 2016, make sure you follow the action on Facebook and Twitter using #KFCMiniCricket.

{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 third 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 training session and a game against the Proteas, all assisted by one of the three KFC Mini_Cricket coaches, Graeme Smith, Neil McKenzie and Mfuneko Ngam.

The runners-up will be given the opportunity to participate as ball boys and girls at a televised Ram Slam T20 Challenge match in their area.

Three third place winners will be drawn, each of whom will be awarded with 25 KFC Mini-Cricket sets for their school.

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 110 000 kids from over 4 900 schools active in the KFC Mini-Cricket programme who are coached by over 8000 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 PHOTOS PAKISTAN VS SOUTH AFRICA 2ND TEST NEWLANDS 2013

POWERADE CHOSEN TO HYDRATE THE PROTEAS

Cricket South Africa has chosen Powerade to hydrate the Proteas during the 2012/13 cricket season against New Zealand, and later Pakistan.

The first of two test matches against New Zealand starts today and based on the number of hours the players will be on the field in the blazing Cape Town sun, this highlights the importance of players being adequately hydrated before, during and after physical activity.  The American College of Sports Medicine’s stand on exercise and fluid replacement (2007) promotes sports drinks such as Powerade as they have been shown to be an effective source of fluids, providing carbohydrates and electrolytes. 

Rob Walter, fitness and conditioning coach of the Proteas who has over 11 years experience in training elite athletes highlights the importance of consuming specially formulated sports drinks such as Powerade during intense physical activity. “Powerade is key to our performance in terms of providing the energy required to maintain sustained levels of high performance, as well as helps with recovery after prolonged exercise.” 

“The number one rule to avoid dehydration is to listen to your body,” explains Walter.  “Thirst is the body’s first indication of dehydration. Failure to replace fluid, carbohydrates and electrolytes can lead to fatigue, which can impair performance.”

To keep the Proteas players adequately hydrated it may take up to 7 litres of fluids per player per day. A further 4 litres per player is allocated to keep the team hydrated during training sessions.

Walter further highlights how dehydration can kick-in quickly in South Africa’s hot and humid conditions:  “When conditions are hot and humid the players sweat more, so it’s important to replace those fluids and nutrients which are lost through sweating. With extreme temperatures, players average between 3 to 5 litres of fluids in a training session.”

Drinking Powerade helps put back both the fluid and electrolytes lost during prolonged exercise.

“Powerade is proud to have been chosen by Cricket South Africa to hydrate the Proteas. Throughout the world, Powerade is associated with premier sporting events and athletes like the Proteas.  The work the players put in behind the scenes, on the training field, is paramount to success on the playing field, and as a sports drink, Powerade is proud to be a part of that journey towards the game. Powerade’s role is to ensure players stay hydrated, replacing lost fluid, carbohydrates and electrolytes, and making sure they are ready for the next part of the game, that’s what the fans want to see, Proteas playing to the best of their ability”, said Ismail Nanabhay, Senior Brand Manager: Sports & Iced Tea at Coca-Cola South Africa.