Hitting social ills for a six

CRICKET took centre stage in Cape Town as Awqaf South Africa (Awqaf SA), in partnership with Primrose Cricket Club and endorsed by the Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA), hosted the 10th edition of the Awqaf SA 100 Ball Youth Cricket Tournament.

The tournament was held from 17-21 December, marking a decade of youth development, sporting excellence and social impact through cricket. Matches were played at Primrose Cricket Club in Kenilworth and at six community fields across the city.

Tournament coordinator Dahlaan Collier said the event went beyond producing skilled players.

Collier said: “This tournament was about more than producing good cricketers, it was about producing grounded, responsible young people."

The event was organised by a youth-driven committee, many of whom had participated in the inaugural tournament and now returned as leaders and organisers.

Also support and guidance for the tournament were sporting dik dinge, former Cricket SA acting president Beresford Williams, former WPCA CEO Nabeal Dien and Proteas legend JP Duminy, with the event attracting families and community members throughout the week.

A total of 50 teams, ranging from U/10 to U/19, took part in the five-day event, bringing together young cricketers from diverse communities in one of the country’s most inclusive youth cricket tournaments.

Since its launch in 2016, the tournament had grown into one of Awqaf SA’s flagship social cohesion initiatives, using sport to bridge social divides while promoting discipline, teamwork, leadership and values-based development.

This year’s tournament was anchored by the theme “Beyond Cricket - The Next Big Leap”, reflecting a vision that positioned cricket as more than just a sport. Organisers said the focus was on developing socially conscious and opportunity-driven young people alongside cricketing talent.