In honour of International Volunteer’s Day today, KFC recognises and celebrates the thousands of volunteer coaches that passionately serve the KFC Mini-Cricket programme in South Africa, every year.
To date, over 120 000 KFC Mini-Cricket kids continue to play their favourite sport throughout the year in over 6 400 schools under the guidance of their volunteer coaches who encourage them to simply “play the game their way”.
The 11 606 KFC Mini-Cricket coaches dedicate their time to help ensure that kids have the critical building blocks to learn cricketing basics as well as to entrench important life lessons through the sport. The programme allows volunteers at schools to facilitate a cricket sporting programme, even with basic fields and facilities.
Thabisa Mkhwanazi, KFC Public Affairs Director said, “Today, we celebrate and honour the selfless and committed KFC Mini-Cricket coaches that play a critical role in making our Mini – Cricket programme the success it is. It is through their unwavering passion and determination that we have an impactful programme. With the help of our valued partners, Cricket South Africa, the coaches and coordinators, the programme continues to uplift communities and thrive. We urge our volunteer coaches to continue putting in the time and passion to developing our future cricketing heroes and cricket fans.”
This year, Cricket South Africa (CSA), celebrated Eunice Gonyela as the KFC Mini-Cricket Coach of the Year. The 66-year-old retired school teacher was awarded the accolade because of her determination and dedication, as a volunteer, towards the development of KFC Mini-Cricket kids. Eunice has been part of the KFC Mini-Cricket programme for over three decades and currently looks after the Port Elizabeth area, with junior coordinators running their divisions under her leadership.
International Volunteer Day is a day mandated and endorsed by the United Nations Assembly is a celebration and acknowledgment of volunteers who assist with meeting programme objectives by recognising their contributions and efforts to ensure that those who need their services are well attended to.
