Cricket SA to celebrate 40 years of mini-cricket with stars in Soweto

Proteas men's and women's stars will be in Soweto on Saturday, helping Cricket South Africa (CSA) celebrate 40 years of mini-cricket.

The product was launched back in 1982, designed to provide youngsters with an entry-level experience of cricket.

Driven by CSA in schools and with the help of volunteer coaches, the six-a-side format - which uses the famous red Slaz-ball - introduces the basic of batting, bowling and fielding by allowing all players to perform all three disciplines over the course of a game.

Originally backed as Bakers Mini-Cricket, the initiative now falls under the sponsorship of KFC.

Over the last four decades, according to CSA, the programme has reached 126 000 players, 13 000 coaches and more than 6 000 schools.

Saturday's function will see around 400 boys and girls between the ages of 6-13 years old simultaneously taking part in matches at the Elkah Stadium.

The schools taking part in the festival will include Soweto's Thabang Primary, St Angelas Primary and Lodirile Primary as well as Samuel Mangala Primary, Senyamo Primary and Dr Mary Malahlela Primary School.

Current Easterns head coach Geoffrey Toyana, former cricketer and administrator Anton Ferreira, and Soweto CC and Central Gauteng Lions favourite Johnson Mafa will also be in attendance.

"Mini-Cricket forms part of CSA’s core vision of providing access into the sport of cricket for South Africans from all walks of life, standing the test of time over the last four decades to become the longest-running sports development programmes on the continent," said CSA CEO Pholetsi Moseki.

"In an exceptional 40-year anniversary season that saw the programme’s records broken during a mega festival at the start of the season and the objective of playing 70