There is an age-old saying that ‘talent knows no age, gender, race or economic status.’

Seven-year-old Lesidi Mekgoro from Lesego Primary School is a perfect example of this, taking to cricket like a duck to water.

At the recent KFC Mini Cricket North West Provincial Festival, Mekgoro stood out with his near-perfect bowling style. When Bizhub Highveld Lions player, Nicky van den Bergh, asked Mekgoro where he learnt the action, he explained that he mimics bowlers’ actions. Mekgoro also said his father, Aubrey,  a municipal worker at the Tlokwe Municipality, lives close to the local Tlokwe cricket hub. Lesidi then has the opportunity to mimic the bowlers he sees at the hub.

His parents took him and introduced him to the local KFC mini cricket      coach, Rico Ramokhethi where he was given an opportunity to play cricket. His talent was recognised immediately.

KFC mini cricket has changed Lesidi – he has become very helpful around the house, is very disciplined and you can see, by his dedication to cricket, that his concentration has improved at school. Since he has become a little bit of a celebrity among the schools in the area, his self- esteem has also improved considerably.

Even though most of his friends play other sports, he has fully committed to KFC mini cricket because of his love for the game. He has managed to recruit some of his classmates to play KFC mini cricket and Phaladi Primary School, where he practises, has allowed them to play with their teams.

His father hopes that KFC mini cricket will give him a solid foundation in the sport and that, together with his school results, will enable him to get a bursary to go to a cricket-playing school.

According to Aubrey, the hub system, together with KFC mini cricket is working very well in the township. It is helping Lesidi socialise with people but, more than that, it has created an opportunity for him to go further in cricket, maybe all the way to becoming a Protea one day.

Rico Ramokhethi, the KFC mini cricket coordinator at North West Cricket, also believes that the current hub system, which has been operating in the townships for the past three years, is currently helping to develop cricketers.

‘The main aim is for these players in the Ikageng township to start playing competitive cricket. The Tlokwe hub is also affiliated with the Ikageng Cricket Club and many of the youngsters have been integrated into the club.’

Aubrey would love to see his son become a Protea player or, if not a Protea player, he would like to see him get   involved in KFC mini cricket as a      coach.

‘Lesidi is a natural talent with a massive future ahead of him. At this young age, I believe that KFC mini cricket is the perfect platform where he can be  infused with a deep love and passion for the game before going to showcase his skills at the next level,’ said Heinrich Strydom, CEO of North West Cricket.