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Club gets Madiba-day present

Johannesburg - Facilities at Alexandra Cricket Club in Johannesburg have received a Mandela Day makeover, after Cricket South Africa (CSA) and the Gauteng Cricket Board (GCB) joined forces and decided to celebrate Mandela Day this year by giving back to its cricket structures.

Gallery: CSA's present to Madiba

The move is a timely development following the Club's promotion to play Premier League Cricket this season, and comes after a revival of cricket in the area, thanks to concerted efforts from the GCB.

CSA CEO Gerald Majola said: "Nelson Mandela is an inspiration to cricket, and was a vital part of the unity process 20 years ago. It is wonderful for us to honour his life by participating in Mandela Day today. Alexandra Cricket Club has just recently been promoted to play Premier League Cricket in Gauteng so at least we know that our 67-minutes will go a long way in uplifting cricket in this area. I would like to thank everyone who came out in support of our initiative and hopeful everyday going forward will be a Mandela Day."

Today, at least 50 CSA and GCB staff, including players from the Proteas men's and women's national sides and the bizhub Highveld Lions, descended on Alexandra Cricket Club to lend a helping hand to the project, which included renovations to the clubhouse, change rooms and grass embankments. At the same time, a 67-minute KFC Mini-Cricket festival was held, which saw over 200 budding cricketers being coached by their heroes, while enjoying cricket in the winter sun.

GCB CEO Cassim Docrat said: "Today was a truly special day for Alexandra Cricket Club. One of our main aims at the GCB is to uplift the previously disadvantaged cricket areas in Gauteng and to do such a selfless act on Madiba's birthday makes this occasion so special. We will continue to harness our rural cricket areas to make sure legacies like this continue throughout our region."

Proteas stars Ashwell Prince, Morne Morkel, Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Loots Bosman got their hands dirty for a worthy cause, and enjoyed interacting with the young KFC Mini-Cricket players. 

"It was really humbling to contribute to Mandela Day today, especially playing mini-cricket with the young school children. Although it was not for long, I know that my 67-minutes will make a difference to many up-coming cricketers in this area. Madiba was a pioneer in reviving South Africa’s International Cricket status, and if it were not for him, many of us would not be playing International Cricket," said Prince.

Proteas women's leg-spinner, Dane van Niekerk had a fantastic time: "I had a wonderful time here with CSA giving back to the sport that we all love. I think parents should continue encouraging their children to give something of themselves not just on Mandela Day but every day. People need to remember that it's not only about giving materialistic things to other people, it’s about giving time, a comforting hug or even a home cooked meal to someone without."

"Today felt really good, it didn’t even feel like hard work, it came naturally. If Tata Mandela can give 67 years of his life to the country then 67 minutes is nothing if it is to help our cricketing communities. It is so important to nurture the players in these areas and you can already see the depth amongst the players of colour and boosting their cricket club is a stronger foundation for these players to shine," said bizhub Highveld Lions bowler Pumelela Matshikwe 

In 2010, CSA partnered with Cheese Kids for Humanity, a broad-based volunteer movement. Cheese Kids organise events and activities that encourage young people in those areas to volunteer for community service or civic duty, to raise funds for social causes and to promote activism and environmentalism.

CSA head office staff and members of the Proteas team, including fast bowlers Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Rusty Theron, joined the Cheese Kids family in Berea to help paint the girls' hostel at Nkosi's Haven in Berea.

CSA was supported by its key commercial partners, Sedgars and KFC, in making the day a success.
 
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