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ricket South Africa (CSA) in partnership with KFC journey back to the grassroots level and bring 2023 KFC Mini-Cricket to local communities around the country.

The duo held the Mini-Cricket Community Festival at Mangaung Outdoor Sports Centre in Rocklands near Bloemfontein last week Friday 24 February.

More than 500 kids from 34 schools attended the festival on the day.

CSA’s Mass Participation Manager, David Mokopanele, said; “KFC Mini-Cricket prides itself with being one of South Africa’s premier development programmes, with an impact that goes beyond the cricket field. 

he said over the years the programme has unearthed household professional cricketers and administrators as well as develop astute citizens and ardent cricket fans.

“This year, instead of utilising the main provincial stadia, the festivals will move back to grassroots to community fields with hopes that we reach every child in the country and provide them with the opportunity to play the sport.

We want to elongate our story 40 years on and celebrate the programme whilst we continue to build the stars of tomorrow, Mokopanele said.”

KFC Marketing Manager Brand and Purpose Andra Nel said kids have been watching first-class cricket at its best over the past month, and the festivals allow the professionals and selectors a platform to glance into the future. 

“Our community festivals are unique in that the playing field is levelled and our children can play together no matter where they come, and they get a chance to cast aside any challenges they might be facing.

We are proud to be a partner in cricket that affords our youth an opportunity to play the game they love and gives them a chance to dream and achieve goals,” said Nel.

Free State Senior Provincial Coach, Edward Mokoenanyana said this is where it all started for him and he played Mini-Cricket from the age of 6 and that days like today take him back to those fun years. 

“It has been a remarkable journey and what started as enjoyment has become my passion, it is awesome to bring a KFC Mini-Cricket festival back to the community as it will attract more interest to the programme,” said Mokoenanyana.  

Rafeek Ismail, Free State Cricket Services Manager said, “the programme speaks to our strategic priority of broadening and growing the game and making it accessible to all. 

Having the festival in Rocklands was appropriate as there are many talented crickets from this community, and we want more of them to join the programme.”

Ismail added that the Free State provincial cricketers such as the Mokoenanyana brothers, (Johannes, Ernest and Edward), Pedi brothers (Gift and Kagiso), Norman Sefuti, Sylvester Motsamai and CSA Mass Participation Manager , David Makoponele, all played their cricket at the Outdoor centre and hail from this community. 

“We also want to use this opportunity to encourage CSA to bring more international teams here, such as the match between the West Indies and Free state played a few years back,” Ismail said. 

The ITEC Knights Cricket players Alfred Mothoa and Pite van Biljon spent the day with the kids coaching, motivating, and giving them valuable cricket tips.

Free State Cricket Union Coordinator, Relebohile Ntikane remarked, “Today has been a remarkably memorable one of fun and excitement.

I love the fact that this programme is inclusive with the playing fields levelled allowing kids to learn through sport. Kids can thrive through KFC Mini-Cricket as those that excel can be incorporated into the CSA hubs and eventually get bursaries to study, no matter what their background. 

Caption: Alfred Mothoa of the ITEC Knights during the KFC Mini-Cricket Community Festival at Mangaung Outdoor Sports Centre in Bloemfontein