"December is definitely a time for sun, sea and sand. What better way to spend your holiday than playing on the beach and making new friends? Let's Play is supportive of children playing on South Africa's beaches during this year-end period as they take advantage of our beautiful summer to learn this fun cricket style."
- Vaughn Bishop, Marketing Director of SuperSport ‘Lets Play’.

It’s been 16 years since Calypso Cricket was first introduced to the shores of South Africa and the legacy of this specially adapted version of the game continued in December 2006 as the first ball of the 16th annual Pick ‘n Pay Calypso Beach Cricket Road Show was bowled on East London's famous Nahoon Beach on Friday 1st December. Themba Lupuwana, CEO of Border Cricket opened the festival as the children watched in anticipation for their chance to play. 

East London’s youngsters once again provided an abundance of raw and natural talent on the beach as they enjoyed their time of cricket fun in the sun. Diving wet catches, sand sliding run outs and some fine stroke play contributed to the perfect Calypso atmosphere on the first day on the road show.

From East London the road show worked its way down the coast to Cape Town bringing Calypso Cricket action to the communities of Port Elizabeth, Plettenberg Bay, Wilderness, Mossel Bay, Hermanus and the Strand, before finishing off with four fantastic festivals in Muizenberg. An extra festival added to the Cape Town leg saw the Calypso road show extend over a fortnight with a total 11 festivals. With an efficient and passionate Calypso team the 2006 road show proved to be the biggest and best yet!

Media coverage was extensive and a special guest appearance from Protea’s opening batsmen AB de Villiers at the Wilderness festival inspired the participants and he made praise to the Calypso initiative in saying “It’s wonderful to see kids at this age already starting to play cricket on the beach. It’s a great initiative of Sporting Chance and Pick ‘n Pay to sponsor such a day and expose the children at such a young age to cricket.”  

Idols superstar Gift Gwe visited the Muizenberg festival and met many of the children and we hope to see his involvement grow in Calypso with the launch of the Calypso theme song in the future.   

Every Calypso festival was warmly received within the regions with the support of the local cricket unions being paramount. With over 500 children transported everyday from the surrounding communities, the lifesavers patrolling the seas, medical staff and security watching over, officials imparting valuable advice, local Rotarians, Sporting Chance, Milo and Pick ‘n Pay staff lending a helping hand, each festival is an outing for everyone to enjoy and remember.

After a morning of cricket and a fantastic time on the beach, the sea of smiling faces leave with full tummies, goodie bags, a strong educational message and memories that provide encouragement for the New Year.

Title sponsors Pick ‘n Pay, in association with Pick ‘n Pay’s Choice Brands continue to support this inspirational South African project, Marketing Director of Pick ‘n Pay Jonathan Ackerman had the following to say “Many thanks to you and your team for, yet again, having put together a really wonderful Calypso Cricket event last month. This continues to grow in strength each year and somehow one can never actually believe just how much enjoyment it brings to the children who participate – they really thrive on the outing and I’m sure come back each time to participate once again.”