Cricket festival aims to raise funds for juniors

fuad Esack|Published 1 year ago

MPCC junior committee members Mansoor Abrahams, Washeema Gordon, Moeneeba Abrahams and Waseema Sydow go over some finer details ahead of the club’s fund-rasing festival on Saturday December 16. Picture: Fuad Esack

The Mitchell’s Plain Cricket Club (MPCC) under-13s will travel to neighbouring Strandfontein on Saturday, for their final match of the year.

But, before wrapping things up, the club’s junior committee members have been working around the clock to ensure all things are in place for next Saturday’s fund-raising cricket festival, at the Stephen Reagon sports complex, in Westridge.

Junior committee member Moenieba Abrahams said the aim of next week’s festivities is to raise funds to have all of their junior teams kitted out properly. MPCC has two mini cricket teams, under-11, under-13 and under-15 squads, she said.

“We will be having junior cricket games and also a cricket clinic for kids to come learn the basics of cricket,” she said.

“Our girls cricket team and our MPCC veterans team will also be playing,” said Abrahams, who has been involved with mini cricket at MPCC for five years.

“So next week’s fundraising event is to assist our juniors with proper cricket kits and attire for all juniors,” she said.

MPCC junior committee member Mansoor Abrahams takes his young charges through their paces during a training session. Picture: Fuad Esack

Junior coach Ricky Moses gathers his troops during a match against IKamva CC, at Portland sportsfield, last week. Picture: Fuad Esack

Under-13 and under-15 coach Ricky Moses, who has been mentoring the club’s youngsters for the past for six years, says looking after the juniors is important, not just to teach them the basics but also to ensure they look the part when taking to the field.

“The juniors will eventually fill out senior teams when senior players decide to stop playing. If there is no junior development at our club it will eventually not exist like many other clubs in the Western Province Cricket Association,” said Moses.

Blue Bells’ Abdullah Adams, handy with the bat and ball, in his side’s under-13 fixture against MPCC, at Portland, on Saturday. The youngster scored 51 not out. Picture: Fuad Esack

Blue Bells Uzair Benjamin scored an impressive 80 not out in his side’s match against MPCC, at the weekend. Picture: Fuad Esack

Moses’ charges struggled a bit when they faced Blue Bells in an under-13 match, at Portland, at the weekend, reaching 135 all out, with captain Faatieg Abbass scoring a well-played 54 runs, in reply to to the visitors’ 184/6 after 25 overs.

For Blue Bells, Uzair Benjamin and Abdullah Adams impressed with bat in hand, scoring 80 and 51 not out, respectively.

The under-13s was in fine form against Philippi side, Samora Machel’s Ikamva Cricket Club, at the same venue the previous week. The home side posted 174/6. In reply, the visitors were bowled out for 60.

Hopefully, he says, things will go better in their final match before the end-of-year break. Regarding next week’s cricket festival, he encouraged the community to come out in support, saying: “It's for much needed funds to kit out our juniors , playing sweaters, caps, tracksuits and just to raise awareness as many in our area may not know that Mitchell's Plain has a cricket club,” he said.

MPCC’s Saiffullah “Tazz” Safter goes for the big hit during an under-13 match against Blue Bells, at the weekend. MPCC will face neighbours Strandfontein in their final match on Saturday before the holiday break. Picture: Fuad Esack

Mitchell’s Plain Cricket Club will host a fund-raising cricket festival on Saturday December 16, at the Stephen Reagon sports complex, in Westridge. The festival will feature stalls, live entertainment and fun cricket matches. The aim is to raise funds to purchase kit for the club’s junior sides. The entry fee is R5 a person. Children under-12 enter free. Call 076 589 0498 for more information.