Jacques Kallis gives back to cricket
27 July 2005
Jacques Kallis is on top of the world test batting rankings. He has been one of the world's most respected cricketers for many years now. He is also in his tenth season with Western Province, and has been granted a benefit year.
Kallis is celebrating his 10 years in a number of ways, one of which is the establishment of the Jacques Kallis Scholarship Foundation, which will create opportunities for some of South Africa's most talented young cricketers. It is the first scholarship of its kind in South Africa.
A percentage of the proceeds from Kallis' benefit activities will be allocated towards the foundation, which will start at four schools recognised as consistently among the best cricketing schools in the country: Wynberg in Cape Town - Kallis' alma mater - Maritzburg College in Pietermaritzburg, Selborne College in East London, and Pretoria Boys High.
'So many great opportunities'
"Cricket has given me so
many great opportunities and it has always been one of my ambitions to put something back into the game," said Kallis.
"What better way than to search out the stars of tomorrow and create opportunities for them to reach their cricketing ambitions. Hopefully many will go on
to to become household names in the future.
"From a personal point of view, my father gave me the opportunity of a solid education which gave me the grounding to reach my full potential," Kallis said. "It is important to me that my benefit provides similar opportunities for deserving youths.
Casting the net wider
Reflecting on the choice of schools, the Protea kingpin commented: "It was important for us to identify schools in different parts of the country. This will make it possible for us to cast the net a lot wider in our search for deserving youngsters.
"It also leaves us with scope to possibly expand the Scholarship Foundation to more schools in other
centres in years to come."
Cricket matches, golf challenge
A number of events are lined up for Kallis' benefit. First up are two Jacques Kallis Foundation Balls, to be held in Cape Town on 15 September and in Gauteng on 19 September.
Before the second ball there will be two one-day benefit matches. The first, between a Jacques Kallis Invitational XI and a South African XI, takes place in Cape Town on 16 September, while the second takes place two days later in Gauteng.
Finally, the Jacques Kallis Golf Challenge will take place in Mauritius from 21 to 25 September. It is envisaged that it will become an annual event for the next five years, which will help sustain the scholarship foundation.
For more information, visit the Jacques Kallis Benefit Year website.
SouthAfrica.info reporter
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