Kasilam Urban Cricket League aims to give every child a chance to play cricket
MAGALIESSIG– Kruger said South African cricket will not grow and become better if every child is not given a chance to participate in it regardless of their background.
South African cricketer and former Proteas bowler Garnett Kruger is on a mission to unearth young cricketers in underprivileged communities and public school.
Kruger said South African cricket will not grow and become better if every child is not given a chance to participate in it regardless of their background. “Two years ago, I embarked on an initiative called Kasilam Urban Cricket League to give youngsters from disadvantaged communities a chance to play cricket. I am currently working with children from Diepsloot, Soweto and other townships to introduce them into cricket.”
He continued, “As a starting point, we give them wooden pallet made bat and tennis ball to see if they can play, on the street or in the park. I believe that we can produce the best cricketers if we give every child a chance to play regardless of their background.”
Kruger added that the formal Kasilam Urban Cricket League will be established once players have shown commitment and well trained in Diepsloot. “I have visited almost every school in Diepsloot to share this idea with principals and parents.
“Cricket in South Africa is known to be a sport for those children who attend private schools because they have better facilities. If we continue to approach it in that manner, we will not get the next Makhaya Ntini. Our approach must change in order to grow cricket in the country.”
Kruger concluded, “Sport also plays a very important part in building a better community. Children in townships and other disadvantaged communities find themselves doing wrong things because they have nothing to do when they are not at school.
“Not every child will be a soccer star because he or she’s from the township, we need to give them different options when it comes to sport.”
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