In 2020, a group of young boys and men from Maebane started their own cricket club at their home village in an effort to unearth local talent and to give youngsters like themselves an opportunity to develop a passion for this sport.
The group leader, Thakhani Ligaraba, said the Maebane Cricket Club had been established to give children in the rural areas the same opportunity to learn and play cricket as those in the bigger towns.
Ligaraba fell in love with cricket when he was only six years old. "I am passionate about cricket because it has given me a lot of opportunities and taught me many life skills. I have travelled around the country and created so many brotherhoods through the game of cricket. I love cricket because it teaches one discipline and gives you an opportunity to express yourself, and the fact that it's a fun sport to play is a huge bonus."
He said that they wanted to build a cricket culture in the Kutama area and get kids off the street by getting them involved in as many sports as possible. "With talk about transformation in cricket circles, it is essential to have such initiatives in the rural areas, where most of the black people live," said Ligaraba.
When asked if a proper facility existed for the cricket club, he said their plan was to have a multi-purpose complex built in Maebane that would allow the community to live a more active lifestyle. "With a sustainable cricket club in Maebane, businesses will have something to invest in inside the community, which in turn can improve the economy of the village. The kids who play cricket will also have a chance to one day make a career out of it or receive cricket bursaries from top institutions in the country."
The club is also planning on introducing cricket at the local schools within the Kutama area, which they hope will improve school facilities and get the club more potential sponsors.
The Maebane Cricket Club welcomes anyone who wants to play cricket. "The players we have range from six-year-olds to 20-year-olds, but everyone is welcome to join us. We won't turn you away," said Ligaraba.
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