This follows last night’s launch in down town Jozi, where some Proteas and school cricket players’ came in large numbers to witness the historical event.
Synonymous for backing developmental cricket for the past 30 donkey years’, it would be called Coca-Cola T20 Schools tournament.
“Having sponsored cricket for so long, the Coca-Cola brand has become synonymous with cricket development,” said Craig van Niekerk, Coca-Cola SA, Marketing Assets Manager.
“By including the Coca-Cola T20 Schools tournament into our portfolio we are giving more of South Africa’s youth the platform to be physically active and showcase their talent, to be recognised and to share their achievements, a sentiment expressed by our campaign around the tournament, ‘Show Your Class’.”
Almost 550 secondary schools around South Africa will participate in the Coca-Cola T20 Schools tournament. The format allows each of the 16 Cricket Unions to stage their own knockout tournaments to identify their provincial champions.
A play-off between other champions within their regions will determine which school will represent each of the six franchises in the national finals tournament.
According Niels Momberg, Cricket South Africa -Youth Cricket Manager, the tournament will become a feeder to the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket Week, which in turn feeds the U-19 National team.
“Sponsors like Coca-Cola, who invest in our youth, make a direct contribution to developing the players that will one day go on to become Protea players.
We sincerely appreciate Coca-Cola’s continued support and for backing the schools T20 tournament.”
The defending champions are Paarl Boys’ High (Boland), representing the Cape Cobras, who beat Knights representatives Northern Cape High School of Kimberley in last year’s final in Potchefstroom.
Quinton de Kock, who grew through the ranks from KES and now plying his trade for Lions, is the product of the system. Soon he could be donning the Proteas colours.
As customary in SA, no value of the sponsorship was divulged by either the sponsors or CSA, citing confidentiality clause.
This season the finals will be held in the Western Cape in February 2013.
Now who will show class, mates?
