Cricketers prepare for Mbhalati Cup
Cricket teams in the province are urged to start with preparations prior to the Ethy Mbhalati Cricket Cup Limpopo 2016 which is expected to kick-off at the Polokwane Cricket Club on 29 January.
POLOKWANE – Cricket teams in the province are urged to start with preparations prior to the Ethy Mbhalati Cricket Cup Limpopo 2016 which is expected to kick-off at the Polokwane Cricket Club on 29 January.
This tournament will be held for the first time in the province by the right-arm medium pacer, Ethy Mbhalati who hails from a township of Lulekani, Phalaborwa.
Mbhalati made his first-class debut for Northerns in 2002/03.
He represented South Africa A and also plays for the Titans. Mbhalati became the first South African to take a hat-trick in the Standard Bank Pro20 Series. In 2012, he was included in the Titans squad ahead of the Champions League T20.
The Ethy Mbhalati Cup Limpopo 2016 is a collaboration with Fatima Sports as well as Future Stars Cricket Academy.
Mbhalati, who has been playing professional cricket for the last 11 years, saw the opportunity to assist young children to play more cricket through this initiative.
He said the tournament will only start with eight teams this year and the winner will walk away with the Ethy Mbhalati trophy.
There will be individual prizes as well where players will receive signed cricket accessories by professional cricketers such as AB De Villiers.
According to Mbhalati, the cup aims to provide a platform for junior cricketers in the province and greatly help increase the popularity of the sport among the youth.
“We believe in creating a competitive sporting environment for the children and creating a family atmosphere for all those involved in this cup. We believe this will be a great programme and through its implementation we hope to achieve a sporting culture and also break the cultural diversity in our local community and province at large,” he said.
He added that the winning team from Limpopo will battle it out against the winning team in Pretoria during the national finals.
He further said their main aim is to give players a platform to showcase their talent and impress the scouts who might introduce them to professional cricket in the near future.
For more information regarding the tournament, contact Mbhalati on 081 863 3837 or Jack Senetla on 083 767 4823 or send an an e-mail to futurestarsgroup@yahoo.com.
