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The 11 Provinces Development Program




Boland | Border | Easterns | Eastern Province | Free State | Griqualand West
Natal | Northern Transvaal | North West | Transvaal | Western Province

The Boland Cricket Board development programme

The development programme in the Boland has gone from strength to strength since unity in 1992. Development structures are running efficiently in 10 regions, with the Langeberg and Witzenberg areas the latest additions.Players from the disadvantaged areas form more than 40 percent of teams from the U11 ranks through to the most senior teams. South Africa A bowler Roger Telemachus - a product of the highly successful Superjuice Academy - is a great inspiration. Artificial pitches have been constructed in 15 towns and schools since 1995, giving more than a thousand players access to their own facility through the PPC sponsorship. A new facility has also been established in Pniel, through the UCB's development fund.

The Border Cricket Board development programme

Field grading and net wicket devlopment underway in the Border region

The Border development programme, under the auspices of the Border Cricket Board, is one of the jewels in the UCB's development crown. Covering a vast area - most of it rural - it has tapped into African cricketing traditions that go back more than 100 years in tiny villages dotted around the countryside. It's one of the most productive development regions in terms of national representation at provincial and national level, and has become a role-model for other regions as far as the provision of basic facilities are concerned. To date, 70 cricket nets and 72 middle pitches have been built in the Border region. There are nine regions, which include East London, King William's Town, Queenstown, Peddie, Middledrift, Keiskammahoek, Aliwal North and Alice as well as parts of the vast rural area of Transkei. While Bakers Mini Cricket is the launch pad for budding stars in the province, hardball cricket is mainly sponsored by Mercedes-Benz, although there are also other smaller local sponsors involved.

Easterns Cricket Union development programme

Easterns is one of the UCB's newest cricketing regions, and in a relatively short period of time has succeeded in establishing a vibrant development programme. An indication of the success of the programme is that more than 25 players from the development ranks have been representing their province at junior level. A proud innovation has been the introduction of junior club cricket, and there are now over 100 teams, reaching 3 000 children on the East Rand alone. Country districts cricket plays a major role in the development activities of Easterns, which includes vast rural areas of Mpumalanga. Apart from the national development sponsors, Easterns have had meaningful support from Reumech OMC and Concor. Interest in cricket is growing in all communities, and the development programme is largely responsible for this.

Eastern Province Cricket Board development programme

The Eastern Province development programme is divided into six regions, each with its own committee: PE Township, PE Northern Areas, Humansdorp, Central Karoo, Winterberg and Grahamstown. A series of tournaments have taken place this season, including the annual tournament between Border Development and EP Development, four inter-regional matches, and three games against sides from England. All four UCBSA bursary recipients passed their various standards in 1996, while the sports' management bursary recipients are doing well. All regions are playing Bakers Mini Cricket on a fixture basis, and the EP Mini Cricket festival at St George's Park provided the climax to a series of regional festivals. There has been a significant increase in the number of schools from the previously disadvantaged communities playing in the league. Twenty development players have represented various EP age-group teams, with one boy being selected for the South African U19 squad. Underpinning the whole programme is the generous support of Trust Bank. Since their sponsorship started, EP has been able to broaden the scope of its development programme, which is now a truly holistic one, providing a wonderful outlet for boys in the region.

Free State Cricket Union development programme

Cricket development in the Free State has made great strides in recent years. With the assistance of the Provincial Government, Bakers Mini Cricket has been introduced into rural areas, where it has been embraced with huge enthusiasm by the children. The number of schools playing Bakers Mini and Hardball cricket has increased, and the programme is beginning to bear fruit, with a number of promising young stars qualifying for junior provincial colours at various age groups. Members of the elite development squads at U15 and U18 level receive specialised coaching twice a week during winter at the Free State Indoor School. Various courses and the development of new facilities have proceeded without any hitches.

Griqualand West development programme

Griqualand West, with their newly-appointed A Section status, have found additional cause to focus on their development programme. A full-time development manager and an assistant have been put in place, as well as a school of excellence where rising stars are coached intensively to assist them in reaching their full potential. Coaching courses for teachers are run on a regular basis, and the interest shown gives great inspiration for development of the game, both in and outside the Kimberley area. A winter coaching programme has been started at all schools in the townships, whereby coaches are allocated every week. Joint ventures with the Kimberley City Council and the UCB have resulted in the development of the Yorkshire Cricket Club, where an entirely new field and clubhouse were built. PPC, in conjunction with the UCB, has played a major role in developing much-needed facilities in the disadvantaged areas, as a result of which 25 concrete strips and nets have been built.
The Yorkshire Cricket Club in Galashewe sports a new clubhouse, a new playing surface and a new middle wicket. Mike Atherton's English team were present at the official opening by the Premier of the Northern Cape Province, Mr Mannie Dipico. Left: the middle wicket under construction. Right: ... and near completion

Natal Cricket Union development programme

Natal has split its development structures into three main categories - Urban, Country Districts and Township Development. Specialised coaching is provided at Kingsmead for talented players, and a total of 18 players have represented Natal at provincial level, with two going on to be short-listed for the National U15 side. Four players were given cricket bursaries, and one of the recipients was selected for the South African U19 tour to England and also represented Natal B. In one season six coaches attended the Boston Sports' Management Course, and 419 coaches and course leaders qualified through the Bakers Coaching Academies. Seventeen people sat for the administration course, and 274 more people attended Mini Cricket courses during the past year. The Union has constructed over 60 practice nets, 22 middle pitches, and levelled four playing fields. In addition, at least 25 schools have constructed their own cricket nets.
This beautiful development at Orthman Road in Pietermaritzburg was partially funded by revenue from international tours to South Africa

Northern Transvaal Cricket Union development programme

The Northern Transvaal development programme is particularly notable for the structures and facilities that have been developed in a very short period of time. Bakers Mini Cricket courses are held on a regular basis, not only in Pretoria, but also in various townships and rural areas. A first all-girls Bakers Mini Cricket festival will also be held. A development school has been introduced where specialist coaching is given at U13, U15, and U17 levels. Various competitive matches are also organised for these teams on a scientific programme for 10 months. The winter programme accommodates four development teams who participate against other provinces in a winter league spread from March to August. As far as facilities are concerned, the programme has realised 24 middle pitches, 34 practice pitches as well as a stadium at Soshanguve - all in the space of just one year. The bursary programme involves 25 boys who have shown tremendous promise. One development player is captaining a junior team, while another has been selected for a first team.

North West development programme

Cricket in the North West is starting to take off. The winter coaching programme was extremely full, with 16 courses being offered across the province from Mmabatho to Brits. And a total of 154 teachers passed their exams, which means that the game will start to expand in the region. A national first was achieved with the introduction of Bakers Mini Cricket to school Physical Education periods at 120 primary schools. This will help to accelerate the introduction of cricket. Three major Bakers Mini Cricket festivals are held and a number of local festivals are also staged, all of which are proving to be extremely popular and well attended. New facilities have been built at Vryburg, Mmabatho, Klerksdorp and Potchefstroom through the PPC/UCB scheme, with Zeerust, Fochville, Rustenburg and Ventersdorp earmarked for Phase Two. Clubs are assisting the development programme by inviting schoolboys to take part in coaching and practice sessions. Some boys are playing club cricket while others have passed Bakers Mini Cricket coaching courses.

Transvaal Cricket Board development programme

Transvaal cricket development began in Soweto in 1986 - with no cricket culture in the black townships - and has grown to 14 regions with 110 development teams which play in the Greater Johannesburg Schools league. More than 50 cricketers from the development programme (sponsored regionally by Norwich Life) have represented Transvaal at school level over the past five years. Three development youngsters have represented Transvaal B, while six have reached Colts level. A further two players have represented SA U19 and two the SA U15 team. Sixty young development players are now qualified coaches working in the programme. A further 25 boys are enjoying bursaries at established cricketing schools. A feature of the Transvaal programme is its winter project, with more than 5 000 children participating in Bakers Mini Cricket leagues and many other talented youngsters attending "Operation Excellence" courses. In all, a total of 80 nets and 40 middle pitches have been built, with major cricket ovals in Soweto, Alexandra and Kagiso.
The Alex Sports Club was the first sports club of its kind in the Alexandra township. A multi-sports development, it has tennis courts, basketball courts, cricket nets, and a spacious, well-equipped clubhouse with changerooms and a bar facility

Western Province Cricket Association development programme

The Western Province programme runs as an integral part of the broader existing Development Programme. A Black Township co-ordinator was appointed to run cricket and liaise with the Township Forum. The MTN sub-regional scheme creates opportunities within the areas where the players live, involves teachers and creates incentives for players and teachers. Talented players are then sent on to regional coaching sessions. A total of 335 schools in 37 regions play Bakers Mini Cricket, which equates to about 5600 children playing each week. The U11 Willards Development Week proved popular, with two teams being selected to play Boland and tour to the Southern Cape. A Post-School programme, through liaison with tertiary institutions and overseas clubs, ensures that promising players are not lost to cricket. About 90 percent of representative players selected at all levels since 1993 are still playing. A number of these players have gone on to represent the Superjuice Academy, WP B or the National Academy. Through the facilities programme, most clubs have practice facilities and a playing area. Recently, the focus has been on schools in disadvantaged areas, where over R100 000 was spent in the past season.


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Date-stamped : 07 Oct1998 - 04:36