While South Africans continue to celebrate the Proteas’ triumph in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC), Cricket South Africa (CSA) is shifting the spotlight to the grassroots contributors who have quietly built the foundation of that success.
Recognising the Heart of Development
In a bid to honour and strengthen the roots of South African cricket, CSA hosted the annual KFC Mini Cricket Seminar in Polokwane. This event brought together regional coaches from across the country to align and energise CSA’s mass participation development strategy.
Present at the event were national cricket stars Rassie van der Dussen, Tumi Sekhukhune, and Lizaad Williams — a testament to the importance of the seminar in nurturing future talent.
Celebrating Everyday Heroes
CSA Chief Executive Officer Pholetsi Moseki used the occasion to pay heartfelt tribute to community coaches and volunteers who play a critical role in shaping young lives through cricket.
“This is our way of celebrating the true superheroes,” Moseki remarked. “It’s incredibly humbling to be in the presence of those who form the lifeblood of our development programmes. These are the people who give children their first taste of the game, who inspire them and instil a lifelong passion for cricket.”
Moseki highlighted that while not every young player will go on to represent the Proteas, their participation builds a dedicated fan base and contributes to the development of responsible citizens — something he says is as valuable as winning matches.
Building the Future of Cricket
Acknowledging the Proteas’ recent WTC title win, Moseki reflected on the journey to this long-awaited achievement.
“I always believed it was just a matter of time. It’s a massive relief and a proud moment for the country to finally get over that hurdle,” he said. “But this victory is not the end — it’s just the beginning. I’m genuinely excited about what lies ahead for both the men’s and women’s national teams.”
As CSA looks to the future, it is clear that while trophies and titles matter, so too does the often-unseen work done in communities. With initiatives like the KFC Mini Cricket Programme and the tireless efforts of local coaches, South African cricket continues to build a legacy far deeper than the scoreboard reveals.
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