After being successfully hosted at the Soweto Cricket Oval (Elkah Stadium) for two consecutive years, the U-13 tournament has moved to the western part of Johannesburg in the spirit of growing the game.
The night tournament was originally arranged to give kids from previously disadvantaged areas the opportunity to play under lights for the first time and forms part of the township cricket development programme run by the GCB in partnership with Sunfoil. This relationship between the two organisations aims to give added playing and exposure opportunities and also to cultivate the dreams that these youngsters might have.
For Greg Fredericks, CEO of the GCB, this event focuses on the core business of the GCB. "Providing more opportunities for kids in these areas to play cricket is a big priority for the GCB. This event also gives them the opportunity of a lifetime to play under lights and I think that along with the camaraderie, this tournament does a lot for cultivating the love of the game. Without partnerships like the one between Sunfoil and the GCB, we would not be able to run programmes like these. My gratitude goes out to Shoaib and the rest of the Willowton Group for their support," said Fredericks.
"The Sunfoil Township Tournament programme was developed to inspire the youth to play cricket and to instil a love for the sport amongst the whole community," said Shoaib Moosa, sales and marketing director of Willowton Group.
The Willowton Group has teamed up with the GCB to develop a culture of cricket within townships. Moosa said, "Many environmental factors can limit the youths' opportunities in the townships and cricket enables the underprivileged youth to channel their energy into a positive and healthy team activity. It is our hope that we can provide a platform for the GCB to identify these talented youngsters and give them a future that allows them to rise above their circumstances."
"Willowton Group will continue to champion the causes of communities through sport. We are determined to make a difference at grassroots level where we believe it counts the most. It is a question of grasping and maximising opportunities and this is happening more and more now as the programme gains momentum into its fourth year," he said.
The matches start today at 13:00 PM and continue tomorrow and Sunday from 09:00 AM.
