Momentum Multiply Titans assistant coach Geoffrey Toyana has urged Cricket South Africa to continue running the KFC Mini-Cricket programme as it has helped increase participation in the sport.
Toyana said this at the 40th-anniversary celebration of the programme at Willowmoore Park on August 20.
”It is a great programme to take children off the streets. For me, if I didn’t play cricket, I don’t know where I would be. This programme helps and CSA should take it seriously. If we can get one to play professional cricket out of these kids, our job is done,” he said.
Toyana has been in the programme for 36 years and he credited it for helping him grasp the basics of cricket as a youngster in Soweto in 1986.
The former Highveld Lions coach commended mini-cricket for producing players like Mangaliso Mosehle, Dale Steyn and Temba Bavuma among others.
He was critical of the government and CSA’s failure to develop cricket in the townships.
“It’s tough in the townships. There are no facilities and it’s a challenge. At St John’s College, for example, they have seven ovals. In Soweto where there are almost 10 million people, there are only three cricket grounds.
“How are we going to produce the Kagiso Rabadas of the future? It’s a challenge for us and it’s like that in every township. There are no cricket schools. Most of the children at this festival stop playing once they leave because of a lack of facilities. We have to take cricket closer to the people.”
Toyana has called for cricket schools to be built in areas across the country to increase participation.
“I’ve said this many times. You look at most black players playing professionally – none of them had their development in the townships. I’m the only one who went from a township school to play professional cricket. That’s rare today because talented players in the townships are taken to schools with resources to have their development there. I’m sure CSA can do something,” Toyana said.
Easterns Cricket Union was one of the 16 CSA affiliates that hosted the mini-cricket festival. The Willowmoore Stadium’s main stand was painted red and white by hundreds of children from various schools in the region.
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Before taking to the field, the learners observed a moment of silence for Easterns Ladies player, Gugu Khumalo, who passed away on August 19.
The field was divided into more than 10 mini fields and they participated in impromptu matches with mini-cricket ambassadors and Easterns players helping with the basics.
“The biggest thing for us is to see these children playing. Yes, there are tactical flaws like throwing instead of bowling. That will be worked on at a later stage because we don’t want to over-coach them.
“There are a few who can play and that’s good for us. But for now, it’s just for the children to come and enjoy themselves,” said Toyana.
The mini-cricket programme was launched in 1982 to encourage the growth and development of cricket among boys U9 and girls up until the age of 13. The programme has grown rapidly over the years to give children from different backgrounds an opportunity to participate in the game.
Since its launch, over 2,5 million children have participated in this programme, which has played a pivotal role in producing players for the various national teams – Proteas, Momentum Proteas and South Africa U19 sides.
According to CSA, more than 126 000 children participate in the programme every year and the number of coaches and schools participating has increased to nearly 13 600 and 6 600, respectively.
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