JOHANNESBURG - The Titans franchise will partner with three urban schools in the Tshwane area to revitalise cricket at those schools and accelerate development in the region.
The initiative will see cricket facilities neglected for years for a variety of reasons receive crucial aid to rebuild infrastructure and kickstart the replaying of the sport. The three schools that will receive backing initially are Akasia, HF Verwoerd and Uitsig High as part of a five-year programme.
The idea is the brainchild of former administrator Ali Bacher, who first mooted the idea with Gauteng cricket officials who then got it up and running in Vereeniging, Krugersdorp and Queen High School, situated in Johannesburg’s eastern suburb of Kensington.
“All those schools had good facilities but fell into neglect for whatever reasons,” said Bacher. “The demographics in the urban areas have changed and there are a lot of black pupils attending now, and we just felt this was the perfect opportunity to access an area for development.”
The initiative is being backed by telecommunications company Blue Label. The Titans are combining the programme with their own development initiatives and will assist the programme with coaches and equipment. The schools will also be able to take advantage of feeder programmes with local primary schools.
@shockerhess