Aspiring cricketers taught important lessons at coaching clinic
The sessions not only promoted cricket, physical and mental well-being but also life skills and self-awareness.
The inaugural ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup has empowered women and that’s what the world needs.
This is according to tournament ambassador Lutho Sipamla.
“This tournament has sent out a strong message that women can become anything they want – be it cricketers, rugby players or runners. Women are capable. That’s the big message.”
Sipamla was speaking at the Cricket 4 Good coaching clinic, which aims to empower women and girls through cricket. It was held at Lord’s cricket ground in Actonville on January 17.
“It’s the first of its kind,” Sipamla said about world cup. “It’s a big occasion. It’s great to see growth in women’s cricket.”
While a tournament of this nature for women is long overdue, the Lions bowler commended the programmes the ICC and its partners have instituted to help with the development of cricket, especially in impoverished areas.
“It’s a stepping stone for young cricketers looking to pursue cricket as a career. It’s great to see all these professionals taking time out to work with the young ones in the townships.
“Knowing that there’s an U19 World Cup for girls will inspire them to aim higher. This tournament will also inspire them to set clear goals,” he said.
More than 60 girls from different schools took part in the event that saw Indian and Sri Lankan cricketers, along with coaches from Easterns Cricket, impart fundamental cricket skills including batting, bowling and catching.
“The event was important because it’s one of the ways to encourage girls to see that there’s a pathway for them in cricket and that there are plans by CSA to show them there’s a future for them in the sport,” said Easterns Cricket KFC mini-cricket coordinator Julius Maziya.
The sessions not only promoted cricket, physical and mental well-being but also life skills and self-awareness.
“The theme for this world cup is self-awareness. It’s important to the ICC that we develop the children holistically, not only on the cricket field but to also be people who can present themselves well in society,” CSA’s senior cricket manager and legacy lead for the world cup Johan Weyers said.
Weyers stated this tournament will leave a lasting legacy in South Africa and has already taken women’s cricket a step further as CSA is hosting a U19 girls’ T20 tournament in all nine provinces.
“Being the first U19 women’s world cup, it provides an opportunity for our U16 and U18s in the CSA pathway and pipeline to ensure that when they reach the U19 level, they are eligible for selection for the national teams to play in future U19 world cups,” Weyers said.
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