Sahara Computers, in conjunction with the Eastern Cricket Union and members of the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCB), together with national cricket captain Graeme Smith, celebrated the future of cricket development at a coaching clinic held recently at Kwa Thema Cricket Oval on the East Rand.
A group of 724 children from surrounding areas were put through their paces by Smith and covered various cricketing disciplines including batting, bowling and fielding. The aspiring cricketers then put their knowledge to the test in a Mini Cricket tournament.
Gary Naidoo, marketing director at Sahara Computers, said the day belonged to the future talent of the country and it was an honour for the company to play its part in helping to develop this talent.
"Sahara Computers is passionate about South African cricket and we are equally as passionate about helping to develop resources. It has been a year since the company concluded a significant, long-term sponsorship agreement with three provincial cricket unions and this has certainly made a lasting difference. In this short time, Sahara Computers has spearheaded a number of initiatives to bring the community closer to the game and make the sport a lot more accessible, especially to the youth of the country," says Naidoo.
"We are very excited about the advent of coaching clinics - a tried and tested method of ensuring skills development at an early age. It bodes well for the sport and for SA." Naidoo also pointed out that this is the first time a national cricket captain has participated in an initiative of this kind within this region.
Cassim Sulliman, Acting Chief Executive of the African Cricket Association (incorporating 22 countries within Africa) and General Manager of the Eastern Cricket Union, paid tribute to Sahara's ongoing support of South African cricket and said the day was a great success for the union and for the children.
"It was a great success and we received a very positive response from those actively involved in youth development programmes. This is the first time that an independent corporate has committed to a joint venture with the union, on this scale, in the service of disadvantaged communities. It sends out a strong message of motivation and hope," says Sulliman. "We are thankful for the leadership and strong sense of community spirit demonstrated by Graeme Smith and Sahara Computers."
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Established in 1997, Sahara Computers assembles and markets PCs and peripherals through a global distribution network that covers both established and emerging markets.
The company is based in Midrand and is the official distributor and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for a variety of top international vendors including: AMD, Creative, Delta, Epson, Intel, Lexmark, Maxtor, Microsoft, MSI, Samsung, SMC Networks and Symantec.
An accredited member of the Proudly South African campaign and Savant international brand awareness initiative, the Sahara business network stretches across SA to include Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth. The company has established presence in key African countries like Kenya and Botswana, and is focused on an aggressive strategy to expand into this growing market.
For more information on Sahara Computers, its products and services, visit www.sahara.co.za.
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