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Monday, 26 February 2001
Standard Bank’s new cricket development programme
Standard Bank has launched a three-year plan to develop cricket in previously disadvantaged communities. The programme aims to foster cricket by providing infrastructure and equipment at cricket-playing schools in these communities.
Says Lyndon Barends, Group Sponsorship Director at Standard Bank: "We want to bring the game to as many people as possible. Our goal is to ensure that cricket is visible and accessible and that young cricketers have the necessary tools to develop their skills. We have identified the provision of facilities and equipment as one of the most pressing needs."
The programme will provide playing pitches and practice nets at cricket-playing schools. Concrete pitches and practice nets will be provided where schools have sufficient space, while moveable plastic pitches and practice nets will be used at schools with little space.
Access to facilities will also be improved by the programme’s cluster approach which groups schools - primary and secondary - in clusters. These clusters will share pitches and nets.
"The cluster concept will provide home ground facilities to schools who do not have space for their own pitches and should reduce the number of games cancelled as a result of schools not having access to facilities," says Barends.
The lack of basic equipment will be addressed through the provision of kitbags to schools. A kitbag contains pads, bats, stumps, gloves, balls and a fielding practice kit.
Standard Bank will also encourage local communities to become involved in the game by ensuring that local businesses and workers are used as suppliers of the cricket facilities. The bank will make every effort to source suppliers from previously disadvantaged businesses.
"To ensure the programme’s success, we will consult the UCB’s regional development representatives and do a detailed assessment of the community and schools’ current situation and needs. Once this has been established we will tackle the provision of the facilities and training. A pilot project in the Western Cape has been extremely successful with an overwhelmingly positive response from the communities. Our next focus will be the Central Karoo and we hope to start with the project in March.
"We believe the three-year plan not only reaffirms our commitment to the UCB’s development objectives but will also enhance those programmes already in place. We will continue to sponsor the national under-13 tournament as well as the annual universities and technikon weeks," says Barends.
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