Schools cricket needs support
ALEXANDRA - Cricket personalities in Alexandra lament the lack of support in developing skilled youth who could feed into the future national team.
Cricket personalities in Alexandra lament the lack of support in developing local cricketing youth who could feed into the future national team.
They say cricket in Alex could soon be the sport of choice for schoolchildren and could, with support, contribute to the ongoing problem of the lack of black players in professional ranks.
This was emphasised by the chairperson of the Alexandra Township Chiefs’ cricket club and deputy principal of Skeen Primary School, Cornelius Setshedi when he outlined the developments and challenges of this sport in the township.
Chiefs are part of 75 teams in Gauteng affiliated to the international last men standing league, and play in the Wendywood league. Last year some of its teenage players participated in a world championships competition at Lords cricket grounds in the United Kingdom, and eight more boys will participate again this September sponsored by the team.
Setshedi says the core of the club’s development is centred around the U13 age group which has eight school-based teams in the league which comprises Skeen with two, MC Weiler, Iphuteng, Ikage, Ithute, Gordon and Ekukhanyisweni.
The league matches are played at Skeen every Saturday. “The club will establish eight more teams from the remaining schools in Alexandra and the neighbouring areas to enhance competition and to keep children off the street and from bad influences,” Setshedi said.
He added that the club’s senior team will also be participating in a national competition in Port Elizabeth in December, and if they win they would become national champions of the last men standing league and, with funding, attend the world championships next year in Barbados, West Indies.
Setshedi feels that despite evidence of rapid growth, progress was being hampered by lack of sponsorship to enable the club to attend more competitions to enhance their game, as well as recognition for its effort.
He said the Region E Sports Council had not been able to fulfill its sponsorship commitments. He also said that the Gauteng Cricket Board did not seem keen to see more teams emerging to enhance competition, and alleged it did not encourage fledgling quality players to feed into the national professional teams.
“This is very disturbing and results in young and talented boys gravitating to crime as they see no hope in playing professionally or representing their country,” he said.
Details: Skeen Primary 011 264 6753.
