KFC Mini-Cricket fest a great opportunity

More than 800 KFC mini-cricket players, representing 14 different regions, participated in the annual KFC Mini-Cricket Provincial Festival held at Dale College in King William’s Town last Friday.

The aim of the festival is to showcase young people’s talent in cricket and give coaches from cricket hubs and regional performance centres the opportunity to identify talent.

Players who excelled were recruited to the hubs and regional performance centres for further elite coaching.

Chris Hani region cricket co-ordinator Viwe Yawa, who was in attendance, said the KFC Mini-Cricket was the first taste of cricket that aspirant young boys and girls were introduced to.

“This soft-ball level gives the children the enjoyment that comes with participating in a team sport and also gets them acquainted with the basics of the game, including batting, bowling and fielding. The mini-cricket was the first organised soft-ball cricket game in the world, and has drawn more than two million children to date countrywide.”

Yawa said the objective of the festival was also to highlight the importance of children keeping physically active and for them to have fun and enjoy the game.

“It allows the kids to play a cricket game that is full of excitement and action with every ball and allows the parents and coaches to watch the kids play a game that used to be a big part of their childhood.”

Yawa said being afforded the opportunity to represent his region at the festival and play the sport he is passionate about, was his highlight in the festival.