Another great year of cricket awaits the Leading Edge — New Year 2023 programme plans with an appeal for sponsors and donors
By Hilton Toro—Director Operations
With the New Year now fully upon us, the Leading Edge’s team of support staff looks forward to another exciting year of cricket-development fun.
In my closing message for 2022, I acknowledge the amazing team that made last year such a success. It is this very same team that will enthusiastically tackle the Leading Edge’s 2023 programmes—which include two matches against visiting UK teams Wellesley on Friday 10 February and Hornsey on Sunday 12 February, followed by another round of selections and trials in March/April and May.
Intensive training of the new 2023 cohort of players takes place in June/July and August, before the cricket-playing season kicks off in September, with an exciting range of tournaments and matches to follow later in the year.
The Leading Edge is also actively working towards taking the teams on a cricket tour to Knysna in October.
As with all The Leading Edge’s past programmes, these cannot happen without the support and financial aid of our valued donors and sponsors.
For this reason, as we’ve done in the past, we do again: the Leading Edge issues an appeal for your kind sponsorship in support of this year’s planned programme requirements and events—particularly for a possible primary sponsor to cover the base costs for the year. We will be looking for clothing, equipment, meals and transport for the players.
It may be interesting for our readers and supporters to note, that the scope of the Leading Edge’s development extends to its coaches and women in sports too. Our holistic sports-development approach extends beyond mere cricket and sports development for the players—rather, we strive to give attention to our players’ academic successes too. For example, two of our top-performing players, Buhle and Owethu have settled well at Somerset College and have been scoring runs and taking wickets. These boys are a joy to watch and we hope they continue to thrive. We’re also excited that Micqail Mentoor and David de Klerk were offered academic scholarships at Somerset College as well. They were part of the Leading Edge team that won the U12 Tournament in 2021.
The Leading Edge continues to remain committed to bringing quality coaching and life skills training the players that move through its ranks. In line with our vision, we continue to endeavour to provide opportunities for both players and coaches to harness their skills. We strive to equip our young cricketers with the requisite knowledge and skills to positively better themselves, their schools and their communities.
The Leading Edge thanks Somerset College for partnering with us—by making their first-class cricketing facilities available to us. We would thank our coaches who continue to volunteer their time to get ‘hands-on’ involved in helping to shape minds, refine talent, hone skills and change lives.
Together with our many parents, supporters, donors, sponsors, staff and players, we look forward to an awesome 2023!
Your financial support (or in-kind) will help The Leading Edge to go a long way to make the dreams of these young cricketers come true. Should you wish to know how you can make a donation and become a supporter of The Leading Edge Sports Foundation’s development programmes, please don’t hold back on contacting our Director of Operations, Mr Hilton Toro.
Simply fill in the form and you will receive a reply soonest.