Cricket South Africa (CSA), in partnership with KFC, is set to start the celebrations of the 40th year of the KFC Mini-Cricket programme.
The festivities will officially begin at this year’s KFC Mini-Cricket National Seminar with the KFC Mini-Cricket volunteer coaches and coordinators, the heartbeat of the grassroots programme.
Themed “Make volunteering your identity, make volunteering attractive”, the seminar will pay homage to the seminal contribution made by volunteers in the mini-cricket set-up over the years and chime a clarion call to make volunteerism a way of life.
The KFC Mini-Cricket National Seminar marks the start of the thrilling season ahead, which will aim to get even more children across the country involved in one of the biggest grassroot programmes in Mzansi.
Post a turbulent period with a global pandemic, the 40-year milestone is one CSA does not take lightly.
Commenting on the significance of Mini-Cricket’s 40th Anniversary, CSA Chief Executive Officer Pholetsi Moseki said: “Mini-cricket has been the backbone of the CSA ecosystem and pipeline over the years. Nearly all of the current Proteas men and women cricketers played mini-cricket at the start of their careers. These include Temba Bavuma, Dean Elgar, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Keshav Maharaj, Duane van Niekerk, Sune Luus, Lizelle Lee, Shabnim Ismail and Mignon du Preez, to name a few.
“The milestones achieved, including unearthing some of the best talent in cricket, attest to the impact this programme can be proud of. Mini-cricket has indeed changed lives. We are proud of the volunteers who so selflessly gave of their time to make the 40 years of mini-cricket worth this celebration.
“Much as the Covid-19 pandemic inflicted a dent and slowed this marvellous programme, it in fact highlighted its importance and brought about the zeal to continue with it. “Special thanks to KFC for holding our hands in a common pursuit of growing talent from the grassroots up.
“The commitment demonstrated by this partnership bodes well for the future of cricket in South Africa.”
With this exciting occasion, KFC continues to be committed to highlighting the importance of levelling the playing field for all the children of South Africa.
The programme sees over 126 000 children stepping into the crease. For more information on the KFC Mini-Cricket programme, visit https://cricket.co.za/mini-cricket/
