Global Softech Sixes to attract African countries

“THE Global Softech Sixes tournament at SuperSport Park in Centurion is the dawn of a new exciting era in the game, which will use Africa as the platform to expose a new audience to an enterprising brand of cricket and might accelerate the globalisation of the game,” said Jacques Faul, Chief Executive Officer of The Unlimited Titans, who initiated and conceptualised the concept.

GSS Sixes tournament will kickstart the new season. This exciting concept will be held at Super Sport Park, where family and friends can get together for a formidable and exciting way of spending their time.

This is the first time that such an event will be held in South Africa. The Hong Kong tournament is one of the most popular events on the international cricket calendar, and the first event in South Africa will more or less take on the same concept.

The six domestic franchises and six African countries – Kenya, Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe and the host, South Africa – will participate in the six-a-side game, which will consist of five overs per team in September 2014. SuperSport Park in Centurion will host the four days of jam-packed action.

“We at Global Softech Solutions are very excited about our sponsorship and we look to using this platform to create company awareness and brand recognition,” said Leela Ramesh Yemineni, Chief Executive Officer of the official sponsor, Global Softech Solutions (GSS), a professional IT and business service provider to corporate companies and government organisations.

“At GSS we look forward to aligning our company and brand with cricket, and believe that this could open up many business opportunities,” said Yemineni.

“I would like to thank Cricket South Africa, African Cricket Association and SuperSport Park for giving us this opportunity and we look forward to successful partnerships with all.”

The Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras and the Chevrolet Knights will kickstart the tournament on September 4 at 10:00, with 50 minutes of frenetic action in the Franchise Sixes Challenge.

The Unlimited Titans, the host, and the Chevrolet Warriors, will be in action at 10:50.

The last of eight Franchise Sixes Challenge games on September 4 will be between The Unlimited Titans and the Sunfoil Dolphins from 15:50 to 16:40.

It will be a case of déja vu on September 5. Eight more matches will be contested as part of the Franchise Sixes Challenge. It will be concluded with the two finals from 16:10 to 17:00.

The opening game of the international Africa Sixes Challenge will be between Kenya and Namibia on September 6 from 10:00.

Uganda and Tanzania will go toe to toe from 10:50 to 11:40.

A mouth-watering clash between South Africa and their Southern African neighbour Zimbabwe will be third on the menu, starting at 11:40 and finishing at 12:30.

Those three matches will be part of eight clashes on Friday September 6.

Another eight matches will lure fans through the gates of the popular SuperSport Park on Saturday September 7, which will reach its climax with two finals from 16:10 and 17:00.

“The Global Softech Sixes could be the ultimate test of nerve and skill,” said Faul.

“It will require pinpoint accuracy by the bowlers, a cerebral approach to each delivery and the necessary variety and quality.

“It might also set new standards of fielding. And of course, batsmen will have to raise the bar in terms of innovation, finesse, timing and audacious shot-making. Power and brutal onslaughts might not be enough. Other global games in the shorter formats have demonstrated that fast bowlers, and spinners with expert skill can pull the wool over the eyes of even the master craftsmen with the bat.”

“This six-a-side-international event is also an equalizer. Not even the overwhelming favourites might easily advance to the finals. One exceptional performance with the ball or enormous boundary bashing by outsiders might turn the tables. That’s why I am convinced that this fun-filled African tournament might expand to all four corners of the globe soon.

“Ideally, the Global Softech Sixes tournament offers cricket an opportunity to globalise the game in similar fashion to what sevens have done in the oval-ball game (rugby),” said Faul.

Cassim Suliman, Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Cricket Association, extended his gratitude and appreciation to Cricket South Africa (CSA) and the Titans for giving cricket members of the continent the opportunity to participate in the Global Softech Sixes.

“A big thank you to Global Softech Solutions, as main sponsor, that you have made this tournament a reality as the first of its kind in Africa. We are indebted to you for giving the African teams a stage and an occasion to ply their trade against the full members like South Africa and Zimbabwe,” added Suliman. This will be a beneficial and productive event for the participating Africa teams. Long may it continue in future.We wish the organisers and officials all the best in spearheading a successful tournament,” said Suliman.