Grassroots cricket expected to ignite the love of the game

New mini-cricket equipment and assistance from Lions Cricket coaching staff is expected to ignite the love of sport for learners at Sefikeng Primary School.

The school received donations at an event held at Leeuwkop Correctional Centre grounds on September 29.

Ephriam Khodumo from Leeuwkop Correctional Centre and Cricket South Africa mass participation officer David Mokopanale arranged to meet with the school’s principal, Lindiwe Molefe, to help underprivileged youngsters become part of their shared love for cricket.

Lions Cricket service manager, Reuben Mandlazi, said the day’s aim was to give children an opportunity to access cricket as well as to form part of the co-curricular. “The gentlemen realised that there is a potential to start a programme that can [have an] impact on kids within this area originating from townships such as Diepsloot. The children thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the coaching programme and subsequent matches,” he said.

He said that many had not played the game before and it was interesting to see how they received it.

Mandlazi said there was great excitement around the batting and bowling through the assistance of the Lions Cricket coaches and their school teachers. “All will be receiving training from our union in order to be able to continue with the programme.”

Khudumo added that there was nothing stopping the young players from becoming the country’s next cricket legends. “If we join hands in bringing educational opportunities to children, whether in sports or through other mediums, we add value to them and show them that the sky’s the limit,” he said.

Molefe thanked Cricket SA, Lions Cricket, Khodumo and the Department of Correctional Services who she said have always been lending a helping hand to the school. “This is the first time something like this happened and it is something I could not have imagined could take place in such a short period of time,” she said.