Locals urged to support inaugural U19 women’s world cup

The countdown to the inaugural ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup has begun.

At the official launch of the tournament at Willowmoore Park on December 14, the tournament director Sivuyile Mqingwana urged locals to flock to Willowmoore Park to watch the future stars of women’s cricket in January.

The launch was attended by CSA, ICC and several government officials as well as Momentum Proteas players Raisibe Ntozakhe and Sinalo Jafta and tournament ambassador Sunette Viljoen.

The first-ever ball of this tournament will be bowled at Willowmoore Park on January 14 by Australia U19W vs Bangladesh U19W on the main field and UAE U19W vs Scotland U19W on the B field at 10:00.

All in all, Willowmoore Park will host 12 group A and D matches, including two fourth-place play-off matches between January 14 and 20. The rest of the matches will be played in Potchefstroom.

“These are future stars that are coming from across the world. You’ve got Rwanda and Indonesia participating in their first-ever ICC tournament.

According to Mqingwana, the organising committee’s aim is for the showpiece to become a festival of cricket.

“I hope the locals, who’ll just be coming out of Christmas and getting ready for school, will come through. Parents, bring your children to the cricket. Come to see these players enjoy playing cricket T20 style,” he said.

“You will find we have two matches taking place simultaneously in Benoni because we have the main and B fields, which are 50m apart. In between that space, we’ll have fun activities for children.”

On issues of spectator safety during the tournament, the City of Ekurhuleni’s sport and recreation divisional head, Enock Tompa said they are engaging the EMPD to ensure the competition is successful.

“The organising committee asked us to, through value in kind, assist them with the EMPD. It’s a discussion that’s still going on to ensure the EMPD can come on board.

“Because of the municipality’s financial situation, we’ve extended our hand to the provincial sports department to ensure they assist so that this becomes a successful tournament,” Tompa said.

Mqingwana explained when the ICC requested CSA to host this tournament 10 months ago they immediately put their shoulders to the wheel.

“We put together the local organising and working committees to ensure we don’t drop the ball. With less than 30 days before the first ball, we are getting there. We are having sleepless nights to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.”

CSA CEO Pholetsi Moseki said the tournament will herald the start of a new era for the future of female cricketers, not only in South Africa but globally.

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