Cricket gems hidden in rural areas
Local cricket gems are hidden in rural areas, due to the lack, not only of sport development in the province, but also a lack of financial support.
POLOKWANE – Review recently spoke to Amateur Cricket Manager for the Limpopo Impalas Cricket Union Feizal Kimimie regarding this issue, especially in rural area schools.
After Review recently covered a primary school league cricket match between Curro Heuwelkruin and a primary school from Mahwelereng is was evident that sport, especially cricket is lacking development in these areas.
The captain and opening batsman for the Mahwelereng team, Ntemi Modimola, played a gem of an innings, showing off his batting skills and his passion for the game.
This begs the question. If this u/13 hidden gem from a rural area was not forced to share safety gear and other equipment with his teammates, how much would his self-confidence and potential, and perhaps the rest of his teammates improve? Ntemi can potentially be the next Temba Bavuma or Kagiso Rabada.
Ntemi’s school is one of many in the province where cricket development is non-existing, the reason being, there are no facilities or equipment available for these players. Many schools lack rugby, netball and soccer facilities despite a number of children who show a keen interested in developing their sport skills.
The few schools in rural areas who do have facilities, mostly soccer fields, are not even close to being up to standard.
Mahwelereng community sports fields, although under par, hosts various sport events. Kimmie explains how Mahwelereng is just one of the many rural establishments which are divided into hubs. Each of these hubs across Limpopo have cricket coaches from the local community that assists with the development of cricket in their area. Mahwelereng is one of the fortunate area with enough established sports grounds.
According to Kimmie, Limpopo Cricket Union receives assistance for the development of its mother body, Cricket South Africa (CSA). He says although sponsors such as KFC – known in cricket circles for hosting the KFC Mini-Cricket tournaments and general sponsorship – make a big contribution to the development of cricket among children, more needs to be done to promote the sport and assist underprivileged schools and learners excel in their endeavours.
Concerning the development of cricket facilities, there is simply not enough funds available, especially in a pinching economy, to help with the establishment of such facilities.
According to Kimmie, the Impalas recently purchased 600 cricket bats which were distributed in rural areas. He says more sponsorship, especially from the private sector, is needed to facilitate progress.
Rejoice Phosa, KFC Mini-Cricket coordinator for Limpopo, says she gets emotional when she sees how excited these children are when they are offered the opportunity to bowl and bat on up to standard cricket pitches. She says regardless of their background, when the KFC Mini-Cricket kids get together, they become a family which proves that sport unites people.
Kimmie provided Review with videos that show the condition of the cricket facilities these aspiring cricketers have to play on. Watch these videos to see how these kids and their coaches perform to the best of their abilities despite the circumstances.
