More than 20 schools from across the South Gauteng region were represented by teams of mini-cricketers between the ages of six and nine who took part in the annual KFC Mini-Cricket Festival.
The festival was organised by Sport Management in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, the Gauteng Cricket Board, Sasol Service Station in Vanderbijlpark and the KFC fast food chain.
The day started off with a warm-up during which sports science students played games with the youngsters, setting the tone for an exciting day of physical activities. The young cricketers had a chance to practice throwing and catching the ball, batting and fielding and employing general teamwork.
According Dr Anita Lennox, one of the organisers of the festival and a senior lecturer in the School of Management Sciences at the NWU, the aim of the event was to offer children the opportunity to get active and have fun while, in the process, learning the disciplines of cricket.
“The day is not only about winning or losing,” explains Dr Lennox. “It is about having fun while practicing batting and bowling skills, developing self-confidence and getting the physical exercise that kids of this age need so much. All while having fun with their new-found friends on the pitch.”
