VKB Knights conducts cricket coaching clinics for kids and their coaches in Lesotho

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Photo by sefton Marks on Unsplash

The VKB Knights is a franchise cricket team composed of the Free State and Griqualand West first class cricket areas in South Africa. The team previously competed as the Diamond Eagles. They visited Lesotho on 7 and 8 September 2019.

The VKB Knights, who were en route from their Annual Umthunzi Cup matches with Hollywoodbets Dolphins, held in KwaZulu-Natal, arrived in the Mountain Kingdom to conduct coaching clinics for nearly 200 kids and their coaches.

After the clinic, the VKB Knights took on the Lesotho National Team in a T20 match. “The rationale behind the visit was to assist our neighbouring country to develop and strengthen the ties between Free State Cricket Union (FSCU) and Lesotho Cricket Association (LCA),” Free State Cricket Amateur Manager Chippa Selesho told SuperSport.

The coaching clinics were conducted in good spirit and Lesotho young cricketers enjoyed being coached by the likes of VKB Knights Captain Pite van Biljon, Grant Mokoena, Shadley van Schalkwyk, and Raynard van Tonder, to mention a few.

The match between two teams went very well and VKB Knights won against Lesotho National team convincingly. “The future of Lesotho Cricket looks good. With a little bit of help and growth they can also get to the same standard of cricket as us,” commented head coach of VKB Knights Alan Kruger.

“Everything needs to start with passion and that is something they have in Lesotho. Supporters came out in numbers to watch us play. We also conducted a coaching clinic and masses of kids that really want to play cricket were there,” he added.

The visit was the confirmation of the outcomes of preliminary meetings held between FSCU and LCA delegation on 10 July 2019. Out of the latter, LCA aspires for FSCU to assist Lesotho Cricket teams, from Junior level to the Elite teams, and on top of that to assist in training of coaches and match officials.

Both the clinic and the match were held at Lesotho High School. “The facilities in African States are a major challenge, particularly cricket facilities. However, we believe ICC African Development will lend a helping hand to improve the state of cricket in Lesotho,” concluded Selesho.

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