CSA and KFC celebrate 40 years together
Cricket South Africa (CSA), in partnership with KFC, is set to kick off the celebrations of the 40th year of the KFC Mini-Cricket programme.
The festivities will officially begin at this year’s KFC Mini-Cricket National Seminar with the KFC Mini-Cricket volunteer coaches and coordinators, the heartbeat of the grassroots programme.
Themed, “Make volunteering your identity, make volunteering attractive,” the seminar will pay homage to the seminal contribution made by volunteers in the Mini-Cricket setup over the years and chime a clarion call to make volunteerism a way of life.
The KFC Mini-Cricket National Seminar marks the start of the thrilling season ahead that will aim to get even more children across the country involved in one of the biggest grassroots programmes in Mzansi. Post a turbulent period with a global Covid-19 pandemic, the 40-year milestone is one that CSA does not take lightly.
CSA CEO Pholetsi Moseki said: “Mini-Cricket has been the backbone of the CSA ecosystem and pipeline over the years. Nearly all of the current Proteas men and women players played Mini-Cricket at the start of their cricket careers.
These include Temba Bavuma, Dean Elgar, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Keshav Maharaj, Dane van Niekerk, Sune Luus, Lizelle Lee, Shabnim Ismail and Mignon du Preez, just to name but a few.
“The milestones achieved, including unearthing some of the best talents in cricket, attests to the impact that this programme can be proud of. Mini-Cricket has indeed changed lives. We are proud of the volunteers that so selflessly gave their time to make the forty years of Mini-Cricket worth this celebration.
“Much as the Covid-19 pandemic inflicted a dent and slowed this marvellous programme. It highlighted its importance and brought about the zeal to continue with it. Special thanks to KFC for holding our hands in a common pursuit of growing talent from the grassroots up.
“The commitment demonstrated by this partnership bodes well for the future of cricket in South Africa,” said Moseki.
With this exciting occasion, KFC continues to be committed to highlighting the importance of levelling the playing field for all the children of South Africa.
The programme sees over 126 000 children stepping into the crease, season after season and giving them the best opportunity to live up to their full potential.
