Coaches from the Boland Cricket Board accompanied the delegation to put the children through their training drills, followed by some fun games of cricket and ended off with a selection of biscuits for each child.
“Bakers commitment to the programme is evident in the fact that Bakers Mini Cricket is the longest running developmental sports sponsorship in southern Africa. The opportunity to see [the programme] in action from the cities to the smaller rural communities allows us to understand what is needed and where our success lies in order to keep giving the children of South Africa a real sporting chance,” says Partner.
Covering the areas of Paarl, Porterville, Moorreesburg, Hopefield, Saldanha, Darling and Wellington, the tour ended at Boland Park where a mini festival was held to end the tour.
Among the schools visited was Mbekweni Primary, a township school based in Paarl, which houses the only sports field for the five schools in the area as well as Soetendal Primary outside Wellington, which services the farming community. Here, the children played on gravel and concrete slabs but this did nothing to hide their delight and enthusiasm at being given the chance to show their skills.
The brand has sponsored the programme for the past 26 years. By focusing on introducing primary school children to the game of cricket in a fun and educational environment, the programme has been able to grow the game in South Africa.
Bakers has also introduced a Mini Cricket 'Heart of South African Cricket' road show which travels across the country teaching children about the benefits of playing sport and how to lead a balanced lifestyle.
“Bakers Mini Cricket is our commitment to the youth of South Africa, as a company we feel if children are able to play together they will grow up being able to work together as adults,” concludes Partner.
For more information about the programme, visit: www.bakersminicricket.co.za
