The tournament ended in fine cricketing style earlier this month, after five days of 49 matches of T20 format involving 288 promising young players.
Faeez Jaffar, KZNCU president, said at the closing ceremony that, in six years, the tournament had grown from a R35,000 to a R1.4m event. It aims to expose township youngsters to the game of cricket, to encourage them to become involved in a team sport and to develop a strong cricket culture within their communities.
He thanked all those who had worked so hard to make the event a success, saying that it was pleasing to see the tournament and the standard of cricket improving every year, setting a new benchmark for the future.
"Our objective is to expose the talent of KwaZulu-Natal boys and give the young people from the townships an opportunity. It also gives those involved in cricket an opportunity to identify hidden talent. It is up to us to create opportunities to make life better."
Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, the KwaZulu-Natal Minister for Health and honorary patron of the programme, encouraged the youth to play sport to keep a healthy mind and body.
A number of other dignitaries attended the ceremony, among them Yunus Bhamjee, president of the KZN Inland Cricket Union, Teddi Adams who represented the EThekwini Municipality and well-known Sunfoil Dolphins coach, Lance Klusener.
Linda Zondi, KZNCU township development manager, said that everyone had been impressed by the team spirit and skills of the township players. "I was particularly proud to see how they have progressed as cricketers and how they are growing in confidence and cricket match awareness."
Willowton Group has been the only sponsor of the Township Tournament since its inception in 2008 and has gone on to sponsor the Schools' Night League, the Dolphins and Proteas Test Series cricket.
"We are delighted to see the fruits of our investment at grassroots level where it is most needed," said Shoaib Moosa, sales & marketing director of Willowton Group.
"These youngsters are overcoming the challenges of poverty and learning that it requires hard work, determination and a positive attitude to succeed in a competitive team sport like cricket. At the same time, they are finding that cricket is enriching their lives and giving them the hope of a better future. It is a question of grasping and maximising opportunities and this is happening more and more as the programme gains momentum in the townships."
