Sport

KFC pads up for SA's mini cricketers

11 August 2010

Fast food chain KFC, which recently announced a five-year sponsorship of South Africa's mini cricket programme, has plans to broaden the entry level programme with the introduction of 16 annual regional festivals.

The festivals give young players an opportunity to showcase their skills and enable the community at large to experience the fun and enjoyment that mini cricket brings.

Commitment to cricket

According to a statement this week, the pledge cements KFC's commitment to cricket from the ground up; culminating in their sponsorship of the Proteas - the ultimate accolade for the young mini cricketers coming through the ranks.

KFC also has an option to extend the sponsorship for an additional five years beyond the current period.

"This new partnership between [Cricket South Africa] and KFC will benefit one of our main objectives; to further accelerate the growth of cricket in the country," said Cricket South Africa youth cricket manager Niels Momberg.

"Mini cricket plays a fundamental role in cricket development and the larger injection of resources into the game will with no doubt aid in spreading the game to more children and unearthing more potential Proteas."

Learning the basics

For more than two decades mini cricket has been giving primary school children, from all walks of life, the opportunity to experience the game of cricket, learning basic skills from batting to bowling and fielding in an entertaining environment.

Mini cricket was the first organised softball cricket game in the world and uses a fast paced, scaled down version of the game with eight members per team and a soft ball, which can be played on any surface allowing the children to experience playing in different positions.

For many children the introductory programme is their first taste of the game.

From mini cricket to Proteas stars

To date over two million children have passed through the mini cricket programme giving these children the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of their cricketing heroes - more than 80% of the current national squad having started out playing mini cricket including Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, Morne Morkel, Makhaya Ntini and Wayne Parnell.

The vast majority of the women's squad, including CSA Women's Cricketer of the Year, Mignon du Preez started off on the mini version of the game, while many coaches and administrators have also moved through mini cricket to coaching some of the regional sides.

According to KFC sponsorship manager Lauren Turnbull, the mini cricket platform provided the opportunity to partner with Cricket South Africa on a programme where the two organisations shared many common values.

"KFC has always been a brand that promotes inclusivity and sharing and the mini-cricket programme encourages this through integration amongst our diverse population," she said. "Through the mini cricket programme KFC wants to promote family togetherness and get kids playing cricket as part of a balanced and active lifestyle."

Add Hope campaign

She added that KFC would utilise their involvement with mini cricket to raise awareness of its Add Hope campaign, an initiative of the Hunger to Hope trust.

The Hunger to Hope trust allocates money to charities that have sustainable feeding schemes and projects and nationally donates R3.2-million to the SOS children's villages, which feeds 950 children a month.

SAinfo reporter



	Mini cricket gives some youngsters their first taste of cricket - and several mini cricketers have gone on to become successful Proteas players (Photo: KFC Mini Cricket)