SA_CRICKET_DEVELOPMENT_AUG1995

Cricket's come a long way

by David Adams August 1995

Once regarded as an 'elitist' white sport, cricket is beginning to gain popularity among all South Africans. David Adams traces the development of the game in this country.

Cricket has been played by all communities in South Africa ever since the British Settlers arrived on our shores in the early 1800s. British missionaries were responsible for a thriving cricket culture among black communities in the mountain villages around Alice in the Eastern Cape, where they established institutions like Lovedale College and the University of Fort Hare.

It was these institutions that bred a love for cricket in the hearts of African leaders like Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Thabo Mbeki, Kenneth Kaunda and Robert Mugabe. Later those villages took the game to black communities throughout the Eastern Cape and to the Reef mines. However, it was not long before apartheid began to squeeze the life out of 'black' cricket. While 'white' cricket flourished and South Africa became a founding member of the International Cricket Council, 'black' cricket remained alive only in the hearts of those who truly loved the game.

In 1986 however the then South African Cricket Union (SACU) started a development programme in townships. The South African Cricket Board had become involved in grassroots development without sponsorship for coaching, equipment or facilities. The perception of cricket in the townships was justifiably negative. Nevertheless SACU decided to embark on their programme, and made use of Mini Cricket, a game based on West Indian beach cricket which introduces cricket to youngsters under the age of ten. Mini Cricket began in 1982 under a regional sponsorship of R50,000 over three years from Bakers Biscuit. In June this year, Bakers contribution to Mini Cricket was an unbelievable R5-million over the next three years to come.

Bakers Mini Cricket, with Steve Tshwete as facilitator, brought the South African Cricket Union and the South African Cricket Board together to form the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA), of which Krish Mackerdhuj is the current President.

South Africa's return to international cricket was aided by Thabo Mbeki, then head of the ANC's International Affairs Department, who wrote to the administrators of all the cricket-playing nations that cricket had begun to play a positive role in South African society and that it should be encouraged at all levels. With the 'new' developments, the UCBSA launched a National Development Programme headed by Khaya Majola.

They have now introduced Bakers Mini Cricket in rural areas among older children and have launched Bakers Mini Cricket for girls. Ali Bacher, managing director of UCBSA, admits that "while many of our development players have the skills to do well they have first to overcome a built-in inferiority complex largely attributable to the apartheid system. The Conrad Hunte and Clive Rice academies are there to break down those barriers and to hasten the process between playing at top junior level and international level."

Already, hundreds of cricketing youngsters in the townships have become role models for their peers. Geoffrey Toyana, has moved from Orlando East in Soweto to the mecca of cricket, Lords in London, where he is spending six months with the MCC's youth programme. Bacher says cricket is proud and privileged to have been given the opportunity to assist in unifying our nation.

Developing SA's cricket

The United Cricket Board of South Africa's development programme aims to broaden the base of cricket to all communities; give new opportunities to disadvantaged youth; use cricket in the reconciliation process of our country; redress the imbalances of the past; and make South Africa the number one cricket nation in the world.

The Development Programme has 11 full-time regional officers which report to the national development directorate. Under the National Development Programme the following has been achieved:

* The Bakers Coaching Academy runs courses for teachers in coaching Bakers Mini Cricket. In return the teachers then coach youngsters under the age of 10. Each child is given their own bat and ball. Regional and inter-regional festivals are held which represent the entire spectrum of our society.

* From the Bakers Mini Cricket the children then move on to traditional cricket at net facilities built in the townships. Fifteen percent of gate takings from international tours is used to build facilities in the townships. The development cricketers then vie for places in their regional teams which are used as trials for provincial teams. They then participate in National Cricket Weeks. As the players go up to junior ranks, they become eligible for club, provincial and finally the national squad.

* Development players with special talent are placed into regional 'Academies of Excellence' run by former West Indies vice-captain Conrad Hunte.

* Players with exceptional talent and potential are taken into the recently formed Plascon Cricket Academy under the directorship of one of Clive Rice. On rotational basis, players spend the winter months at the academy, which is housed at the Rand Afrikaanse University.

Source: Mayibuye, the monthly magazine of the African National Congress