Mini-cricket returns to the Lowveld

This was the first provincial festival to be hosted after a halt in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the national lockdown.

The event was held on Friday February 18 at Mbombela Stadium.

This year’s theme was “Imvuselelo” or “Recovery”, to resume mini-cricket in South Africa after lost time. Mini-cricket provides opportunities for all involved in the programme to grow, develop and shine. It brings youngsters in the country together and contributes to the social cohesion in the country.

ALSO READ: Karatekas show mettle at championships

The Mpumalanga KFC Mini-cricket Provincial Festival featured special guests such as local players Gerald Ngwenyana and Blake Schraader. They coached the kids.

Buhle Motshegoa, Cricket South Africa’s mass participation manager, said, “We are really excited that we can host this provincial festival again.

Like everything else in South Africa, it was heavily affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, so we thought Imvuselelo was fitting, because we are recovering from what we have lost and are rebuilding.

ALSO READ: CONFIRMED: Springboks vs All Blacks at Mbombela Stadium

The focus is to recover the programme and get kids playing KFC minicricket again.

“We would like to encourage schools that are still a little hesitant to play sport, to get back to the field and play cricket in a safe way, observing all Covid-19 protocols. The safety of the kids and the coaches is very important to us,” she explained.

“Not only did I start my career as a mini-cricket player, but I also was the Mpumalanga provincial coordinator until 2019, so this programme has a special place in my heart. I was extremely excited to be invited to the festival and it was great to see that even though there was little cricket played due to Covid, that the standard of playing was still very good,” said Ngwenyana.