The Langa Cricket Club in Cape Town became the first beneficiary of Betway South Africa’s generous efforts to contribute to the growth of sport in underdeveloped areas for the year 2020.
On Thursday 20 February, the leading sports betting and entertainment company visited the Langa township, home of the cricket club that produced the likes of Proteas batsman Temba Bavuma, which has been operating steadily for the last few years.
A brand-new set of training and playing kit accompanied by a top of the range bowling machine formed part of the much-needed donation by Betway SA.
The donation to the Langa Cricket Club comes at the back of various sport focused CSI initiatives that Betway SA has embarked on over the past year, which saw the brand travelling the lengths and breadths of the country and making a difference.
Thursday’s initiative also marked the first time the brand donated to the sport of cricket, having made numerous contributions to other sports, which include football, rugby and baseball.
Speaking at the official handover that was attended by the club players, officials and community members, Langa Cricket Club chairperson, Mr Sakhele Sodlanga said the kind gesture by Betway SA would go a long way in helping the club produce more players like Temba Bavuma in years to come.
“We are one of the very few township-based cricket clubs in Cape Town, which puts a lot of strain on the sustainability of the club. However, having brands such as Betway taking time to invest in community sport organisations encourages us to continue doing what we do for our community. As a club and community of Langa, we would like to extend our gratitude to Betway for this wonderful initiative that we believe will make a difference in years to come,” said an elated Sodlanga.
Betway SA Marketing Manager David Rachidi hoped this would increase the level of participation in cricket in Langa, and more cricketers would be uncovered and become professionals as a result of this special day.
“As a globally acclaimed brand, our success and growth are a direct result of the support we get from our consumers. It is only fitting that we go back to our communities and lend a helping hand wherever possible in order for us to collectively contribute to the growth of the sport. The Langa Cricket Club has done wonders with very limited resouces which makes us proud to be contributing to the club’s vision of growing the sport of cricket in the Langa township,” said Rachidi.
In the recent years, Langa Cricket Club has continued to produce provincial players – with the current crop of players taking part in top-flight cricket, such as, Temba Bavuma, Malusi Siboto and Siyabulela Simetu, with a few more on the fringes expected to ply their trade in the cricket fraternity.