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More than
3750 children from disadvantaged communities in the Western and Southern Cape took
to the streets for the 2008 Pinnacle Point Street Cricket League which kicked
off on Friday, October 10, as cricket takes over the sporting landscape this
summer.

The
initiative, which is in its fifth successful season, involves children from
Gugulethu, Khayelitsha, Nyanga, Langa, Elsies River, Manenberg, Mitchells
Plain, Kwezi, Ocean View, Masipumelele, Lwandle and Atlantis in Cape Town, as
well as Kwa Nonqaba, D’almeida and Civic Park in Mossel Bay, who play cricket
over a gruelling six-week period.

Dave
McGregor, spokesperson of international property development group, Pinnacle
Point Holdings (PPH) – the title sponsor for the past three years – says the
street cricket league has become a highlight on its annual CSI calendar.

“It’s a great
way in which we as sponsors can add an element of fun to the lives of many
disadvantaged children. The league adds an exciting dimension to youth cricket
in SA and creates an environment where aspiring youngsters can entertain their
communities and involve families as spectators, making it fun for everyone”,
says McGregor.

Brad Bing, MD
of Sporting Chance who started the first street cricket league in 2003 says the
initiative has enjoyed unprecedented success since its humble beginnings as a
pilot project in Langa.

“This year
we’ve included four new areas in the Western Cape taking the total number of
regions up to 15. The emerging communities are filled with sport mad children
and the street cricket league allows them to be actively involved in the game
of cricket and the enjoyment that goes with it in their very own
neighbourhoods”, says Bing.

Regional
cricket clubs and sports organisations in association with Sporting Chance
organise children under 11 into street teams of 10. At least two members of
each team must be girls and all must have attended school throughout the year
prior to the start of the tournament – all part of Sporting Chance’s philosophy
of getting as many children irrespective of race, gender or social class, off
the streets and into the sporting environment.

After a few
weeks of intense rivalry and fierce competition the teams play against one
another in the respective regional finals for various trophies, finishing off
with the main finals being played with the top team from each region competing
for the coveted Pinnacle Point Street Cricket Champions Trophy on November 21.

The streets
in the various communities, which serve as the pitch, will be closed off each
Friday afternoon in Cape Town and Sunday afternoon in Mossel Bay for the
matches, and spectators are welcome.

The
initiative enjoys the backing of the National Department of Health, the Department
of Sport and Cultural Affairs, Education and Community Safety, and associate
sponsors include Disney, Absa and the City of Cape Town.

For more
information on the matches contact Brad Bing on 021 683 7299 or [email protected].