Photo Credit: Dolphins Cricket
The KwaZulu-Natal Cricket Union has launched its ground-breaking Dolphins School of Excellence (DSE) programme, designed to enhance collaboration between all youth cricket stakeholders as a crucial step in creating a sustainable pipeline to the Hollywoodbets Dolphins Men’s and Women’s teams for the future.
“The formal KZNCU structures continues to operate well under the guidance of Cricket South Africa. The DSE will be an additional platform that will add value to the formal pipeline through the support of our incredible KZN community and partners.” CEO of KZN Cricket Heinrich Strydom said.
The DSE will aim to provide additional opportunities to ensure that the culture of excellence known as the Dolphins Way is embedded throughout the pipeline. It will cater for all players under the age of 18 who want to take their game to the next level. The DSE aims to link the KZN cricket ecosystem and therefore various opportunities will also be extended to up-and-coming coaches, umpires, scorers, ground staff, cricket administrators and private academies.
Players and officials will get the opportunity to be part of the Dolphins brand, experience what is to play and train at the iconic Hollywoodbets Kingsmead and get the opportunity to interact with the current men and women representing KZN at the highest level.
There’s a lot more to the DSE for Strydom and KZN Cricket as they try to combat the impacts of the pandemic and ensure that cricket remains a priority across the eleven districts of KZN.
Registration is free of charge and will include some basic opportunities without any costs involved. There are also various packages for players to choose from as well as different ways for partners to get involved.
Strydom is particularly excited about the enhancement of the pipeline, whilst levelling the playing fields for all that want to be part of the beautiful game.
“We have various partners that have already committed to purchasing development packages that will be allocated to some of our most talented RPC/Hub development players. These packages will enable these kids to train, play and get to know their counterparts from the private schools and academies, with the ultimate aim of creating friendships and a passion for cricket.”
The KZN Department of Sport and Recreation, the Hollywood Foundation, Illovo Sugar Africa, Kookaburra, Coca-Cola Beverages, East Coast Radio, the Cricket Company and TK Clothing have already committed to the programme and hopefully will be joined by many more partners and individuals.
“We saw the Dolphins School of Excellence as a fantastic initiative to get involved with because we haven’t seen anything like it in KwaZulu-Natal,” Heinrich Koen from Illovo Sugar Africa said.
“It’s a brilliant way for KZN Cricket to identify up and coming talent and give those players the chance to learn from the best that province has to offer.”
“The Dolphins School of Excellence benefits everyone and will go a long way in solidifying the pipeline of the next generation of professional cricketers in KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa.”
The first event of the DSE is a T20 Bash that will take place for Under 12 and Under 10 teams from 23 September till 25 September. The Under 12 event is already sold out, and only limited spots available for the Under 10 event.
