Street Cricket Fever Hits Cape Town Streets

Hundreds of scholars from impoverished areas are once again embarking onto Cape Town's streets for the sixth annual Sporting Chance Street Cricket League, in association with Disney Enterprises, the City of Cape Town, various private donors and with media partners, Good hope fm and Lets Play.

The league commenced on Friday 16th October 2009 and will see over 3 000 participants compete in 12 regional championships. The first five-weeks will be round-robin fixtures with the sixth week hosting the regional finals. This will be followed by the Western Cape Street Cricket festival finale on 26th November 2009 in the 'home' of Street Cricket - Langa.

Every participant of the 2009 Sporting Chance Street Cricket League will be rewarded with a certificate of participation. The regional winners will receive a trophy with winner's medals, and the Western Cape Street Cricket champions will receive the converted trophy, winner's medals and a brand new pair of trainers.

The league was launched in 2004 after Sporting Chance MD, Brad Bing had an understanding of what the respective communities required to get the sport mad children playing cricket.

"The skills are natural and the flair is in abundance. South Africa children are naturally competitive and the streets of the communities are the perfect place in which to display one's skills without having to travel too far"
said Bing.

Whilst many of our sporting hero's started their careers on the street, Paul Adams is no exception in proving the success that street cricket has the potential to take anyone all the way to the top. "I think street cricket brings joy back into the game and helps nurture young and upcoming talent in a fun environment," says Gogga.

Not only do projects of this nature develop future cricket talent in our communities, but it also develops lifetime friendships. Proteas all-rounder Robin Peterson started his cricket career on the streets of Port Elizabeth. "The first time I started playing cricket was on the streets with my mates where different streets competed against each other in the summer months. I learnt how to be competitive but most importantly I met most of my friends who are still very close to me
today."

The Sporting Chance Street Cricket League is aimed at children under 11-years old, who are organised into teams of 10, two of whom must be girls, and all must have attended school throughout the year and are encouraged to belong to a sports club within their community prior to the start of the league. This is all part of Sporting Chance's philosophy of getting as many children irrespective of race, gender or social class, off the streets, educated and into a sporting environment.

An additional feature of the project this year is the official wholehearted support of the South African Police Service whereby local community SAPS stations are now actively involved with officers facilitating the matches as part of their community crime prevention
program.

Overall the Sporting Chance Street Cricket league aims to promote a physical and healthy lifestyle by empowering the communities in a fun-filled environment whereby raw and natural talent can be identified and nurtured.