Proteas take on KFC Mini-Cricket Kids from Saldanha Bay

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 St Andrews Primary School on the 22nd February 2018 at PPC Newlands, Western Cape. 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 St Andrews 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.  St Andrews have already played against the Proteas twice before and are ready to resume their rivalry.

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!

Danone Nations Cup youngster from Limpopo get national call up

 

Since its inception in 2000, the under-12 Danone Nations Cup soccer tournament has produced many players that have gone on to compete for top PSL and international clubs and some have gone on to be member of various national teams. 

A player that is destined be one of the tournament’s success stories is Xolani Muleya.  This 13-year old, who competed for Benny’s Sports Development Academy at the Danone Nations Cup world finals in 2016, was called up to the SA national under-17 team in December to compete against Lesotho.

Xolani made a massive difference to the team that went to France for the world finals where he showed his versatility by playing defence, midfield and striker.  His performance caught the attention of other countries who rated him highly as a future star.

He believes the Danone Nations Cup contributed greatly to his growth in soccer. He started out as a shy and quiet boy. He was tall and awkward then and felt out of place.  It was the Danone representatives that spoke to him and told him to be proud of his height and strength and to go out onto the field in France and be himself.   This gave him the confidence he needed to show what he was capable of and this, he believes, contributed to him getting selected for the under-17 National Team.

When he was informed by the school that he had been selected to attend a national camp with two other players Sibusiso Ndimande and Innocent Khwerana, he couldn’t believe it at first. He was the youngest player in the squad.

“It was great to get an opportunity to represent my country,” he said. “I’m happy I can make my father Fortune Ndlovu proud. He is my role model. My father attends all my matches, no matter how far he has to travel.  Seeing him in the stands helps with my confidence and enables me to play better.”

Benny’s school principal, Nqobile Nfiade believes the Danone Nations Cup changed Xolani in many ways. He is more confident and can talk to other learners now. His academics have improved as well.”.

The atmosphere was vibrant at the school after they announced that Xolani and the two other players were selected for the under-17 national team. “It’s a huge achievement for the school and that wouldn’t have happened if they didn’t win the trip to France.”

He hopes that many soccer players will look at Xolani’s journey and see that anything is possible and that they can also make their dreams come true. “I believe that we will see Xolani playing in the PSL and for Bafana Bafana one day.”

In the meantime, Benny’s have begun their preparations for the 2018 Danone Nations Cup. Coach Mbishi Mokwena is disappointed that they never made the provincial finals last year, although he wasn’t the coach then.

“I’m happy that my mentor Justice Matloga, who owns Greenway Academy, won the provincial final as coach of Haggai Independent Combined School,” he said. “I learned a lot from him. Not many schools can win the Danone Nations Cup tournament in their first year of entering.”

Mbishi believes the tournament has opened doors for players across the country and he is glad that he was able to produce a star like Xolani Muleya.

Mbishi believes that the Danone Nation Cup is a great platform to expose these young players to international soccer and give them a vision of what their future can look like.

Schools can register for the competition by contacting the national coordinator at the SA Schools Football Association (SASFA), Themba Tshabalala, on 011 403 2844, 084 290 0602 or 072 588 4957. Alternatively, they can visit the Danone Nations Cup South Africa Facebook page or go to www.facebook.com/dncsouthafrica to download the necessary documents. (Documents are always on Danone.co.za also)

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Park Ridge Primary school in Sedibeng West joins the Danone Nations Cup

 

The schools are back in session, and registrations for the 2018 under-12 Danone Nations Cup soccer tournament for kids between the ages of 10 and 12, which kicks-off in March, are coming in thick and fast.

Among the names on the registration forms received so far are some old and some new ones. Park Ridge Primary school in Sedibeng West fits into the latter group

The school was founded over 40 years ago to provide a school for the children of immigrants who were recruited to work for Iscor.

Sello Radebe, the team coach, has been at the school for 3 years now teaching life orientation and social skills, and was recruited into coaching soccer this year.

Although he has never played the game at a high level, he has a passion for the game and believes soccer values are important to kids as they teach them respect, team work, trust and time-keeping.

He decided to enter the school into the competition after talking to the local SA Schools Football Association (SASFA) district coordinator.

He doesn’t know much about the schools they will be playing against in their cluster, so he is busy with research to prepare the boys the best he can. “I’m excited that in my first year of coaching we can enter a tournament like the Danone Nations Cup,” he said. “The school is currently busy with athletics, which gives me time to do research on the tournament and styles of play. I get that information from YouTube and the Danone Nations Cup Facebook group.”

Schools can register for the competition by contacting the national coordinator at the SA Schools Football Association (SASFA), Themba Tshabalala, on 011 403 2844, 084 290 0602 or 072 588 4957. Alternatively, they can visit the Danone Nations Cup South Africa Facebook page or go to www.facebook.com/dncsouthafrica to download the necessary documents. (Documents are always on Danone.co.za also)

Danone Partners