CSE helps stars of the future hone their skills

The Cricket School of Excellence continued their commitment to active township talent development in South Africa by hosting 70 young cricketers for a camp in Cape Town in late June.

Between 27th and 29th June, the young aspiring cricketers, all aged between 4 and 14 were coached by Jerry Malilwana and Bulelani Libazi at University of Cape Town's Indoor Sports Centre in Rondesboch.

The camp was co-funded by the Australian High Commission as part of year-long partnership funded through the Direct Aid programme.

As part of CSE's continuing development work, they are committed to hosting 5,000 boys and girls throughout the year from local cricket clubs and surrounding schools in Khayelitsha and Samora Machell that have shown interest in the game.

Ryan Maron, who founded CSE in 1999, explains: "Hosting development cricketers at our private clinics in collaboration with corporate and government partners is something we are committed to.

"Seeing boys and girls improve their cricket skills while meeting new friends is hugely rewarding and offers a glimpse of a promising future for our country and its sportsmen and women," he added.

The last afternoon of the clinic saw a prize-giving event. Richard Stirton, a former CSE student and winne of The Voice SA, shared his experience of singing the South African national anthem ahead of the third rugby Test between the Springboks and Ireland in Johannesburg, encouraging the boys to reach for their dreams, no matter how impossible they may seem.

Also in attendance were Beresford Williams, President of the Western Province Cricket Association and Cape Cobras Cricket and Dan da Costa, who has been with CSE since the age of six and is now an U17 South African international, both handing out certiicates and offering words of advice and encouragement.

© Cricket World 2016