Lots of fun and learning while playing cricket
Twenty-five schools from around the West Rand had the opportunity to gain experience and skills during a mini-cricket tournament.
It was a fun day filled with activities when 25 primary schools from the West Rand area got together on 22 August to gain skills in cricket during a KFC Mini-cricket tournament.
Under the watchful eyes of level 2 and 3 cricket coaches the children had lots of fun on the sports grounds of the host school, Laerskool Protearif.
Buhle Vaphi, KFC’s Mini-cricket coordinator says they present these KFC coaching clinics in conjunction with the Gauteng Cricket Board to raise awareness about cricket among the children.
“The coaches know what they are doing and are known for developing talent. They have one-on-one talks with the children when they equip them with cricketing skills.”
During the day the children were exposed to 25 skills and development stations that focused on the different aspects of cricket such as bowling, batting, fielding and fitness.
“We plan to make this an annual event – so far we have had great support for the programme.”
Mini-cricket was initiated 30 years ago in South Africa to give boys and girls their first taste of cricket, igniting a passion for one of South Africa’s most loved games. Mini-cricket consists of eight players per team who rotate between batting, bowling and fielding.
KFC Mini-cricket allows children between the ages of 6 and 12 years an equal opportunity to get out and get active.
Marilize van der Merwe, promotions coordinator says that children are becoming active as there are already more than 100 000 children participating in the programme while they are learning the disciplines of cricket.
“Not only do they have fun while practising their batting and bowling skills, but they also get the opportunity to develop their self-confidence and get the physical exercise they need – all while enjoying themselves with their newly found friends on the pitch.”
AB de Villiers, captain of the South African one-day international squad and a member of the South African national team, the Proteas, is the KFC Mini-cricket ambassador who is passionate about children playing the game and getting active.
Vaphi says that they invite schools that do not have cricket as an extracurricular activity to get their teachers to become part of the programme to be taught the proper skills to benefit their pupils.
