Defending champions and this year’s hosts the Bizhub Highveld Lions are gearing up for the Momentum eKasi Challenge, the pre-season warm up match against close rivals the Unlimited Titans, which sees professional cricket being brought to local, township ovals.
The matches alternate between being hosted on either team’s home turf; and Lions who are Johannesburg based side, are the hosts.
To prepare the grounds for professional play, team members from the Lions and volunteers from the Mighty Hearts, Momentum’s staff volunteers programme, repainted and refurbished the clubhouse at the Dobsonville Oval on Mandela Day. The pitch is also currently receiving the necessary attention in preparation for a match at this level.
The upgrade of the clubhouses will make a meaningful impact as the facilities are utilised by the local community and schools in the area.
The Lions event management staff will be working closely with the members of the Dobsonville Cricket Club so that this can also be a growth experience that amongst other things will see skills transfer.
Chris Scott, Head Groundsman of the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium, is preparing the playing facilities for the match alongside the groundstaff at Dobsonville Cricket Oval.
Danie van den Bergh, head of Brand at Momentum says, “In what promises to be an exciting annual match, the eKasi Challenge is about giving back to communities. Players magnanimously give of their time and take the game to communities where future stars can be inspired. At Momentum – and through our sponsorship – we believe in the fortitude of shaping future champions of this gentlemen’s sport.
We believe we can make a meaningful contribution to cricket’s transformation, one initiative at a time. We invite all in the area to come along and enjoy the rivalry, and our hope is that children in the vicinity are inspired to take up the bat and ball and become tomorrow’s cricket heroes”.
In conjunction with an educational and health inspired comic book MediKidz, players will take the message of literacy, health and wellness to local school children and to highlight local cricket talent, the Gauteng Cricket Board (GCB) will be hosting a development coaching session between the Lions team and selected development cricket players from the Soweto area on Tuesday 19 August between 2pm and 4pm.
Mamelodi was last years’ host for this competition.
It’s a free entrance. So, budding cricketers and families come along in large numbers!
It will be shown live on SuperSport.
