Ntini academy to revive 'dying' interest

Makhaya Ntini has founded his own cricket academy to help disadvantaged young players from his home province of Eastern Cape where he thinks interest in cricket among the young "is dying".

"It used to be that there was lot of black cricketers coming through," Ntini told IOL website. "But when the franchise system came along a lot of the focus moved away from East London to Port Elizabeth and the expertise used to develop black cricketers moved away too. I think it's dying."

Ntini is keen to give something back to a game in which he has become one of South Africa's premier fast bowlers. "I will be hands on," he said. "I will make sure that everything runs according to the way I want it to."

The academy, which is expected to cost US$400,000 (R3 million), should be completed by the end of next year. It will be based at the Willows Cricket Club in Mdantsane, East London, and has already generated US$62,500 in funding from an insurance company.

He also told PTI: "When you've played cricket for such a long time and people appreciate what you have done, this kind of thing means a lot. When you talk about legacy, it's something that you give back to the kids, to South Africa as a whole. The academy will attempt to address poverty, social inequalities and lack of infrastructure in the Eastern Cape."