The future of cricket is in safe hands

Anyone currently questioning cricket’s commitment to grassroots development in South Africa need only cast their eyes over any of the multiple KFC Mini-Cricket programmes taking place in the country.

The Wanderers Bullring played host to the latest tournament.

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“The festivals take place from the most rural of areas in the Eastern Cape to private schools in northern Johannesburg and even at South Africa’s biggest cricket stadiums where literally thousands of children at a time are honing their skills and building a love for the game,” said Russel Domingo, head coach of the Proteas.

More than 114 000 boys and girls from 5 584 schools around South Africa now participate in the programme. This makes KFC Mini-Cricket the biggest grassroots development programme in South Africa by some stretch.

“In all my travels with the Proteas, I have visited every single cricket-playing nation in the world and am yet to see anything which comes close,” said Domingo.

KFC Mini-Cricket is the first step in Cricket South Africa’s pipeline to the Proteas and is the first taste of cricket for the majority of children taking up the game. It is a softball version of cricket focusing on participation and fun, ensuring every player is given ample chance to bat, bowl and field.

On a micro level, it aims to set young South Africans on the path to international stardom by entrenching cricketing basics and a love for the game by reaching as many children around South Africa as possible. On a more macro level, it is creating a generation of cricket lovers – something which can only be good for the future of the game in the country.

“The programme’s contribution to our player structures is obvious. Where the programmes benefit is somewhat less obvious and this is the coaching element. A total of 8 774 volunteers took up coaching duties in the KFC Mini-Cricket programme in the last year,” said Domingo.

KFC Mini-Cricket offers each coach the chance to upskill themselves through initiatives such as regional seminars where local coaches involved in the programme meet to share best practice and to learn from standout coaches and CSA representatives.

“As I watch these young cricketers take to the field and ready themselves to face off against their heroes in the KFC Mini-Cricket Kids vs Proteas Tour, I can’t help but think to myself that one day they may just be doing this for real. It’s a dream, but it needs to start somewhere.”