• JP Duminy foundation, PPC present new school pitch

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    The JP21 Foundation and PPC officially handed over a new concrete practice and match cricket pitch to Spine View Primary School in Rocklands, Mitchell’s Plain on Monday.

    The JP21 Foundation was founded by cricketing legend JP Duminy to nurture grassroots cricket talent in the country, particularly in disadvantaged schools. When PPC acquired naming rights for the iconic Newlands cricket grounds, it also announced it would partner with the JP21 Foundation by providing the concrete for the pitches.

    Clint Wicomb, PPC general manager coastal sales and marketing, said that the handover at Spine View Primary was yet another milestone in PPC’s partnership with the JP21 Foundation and, more broadly, with South African cricket.

    ‘We believe that cricket, with its code of sportsmanship, and its unique combination of individual and team excellence, is a great builder of character. Character is a product of strength — an individual’s strength and the strength of his or her partnerships — and thus speaks to PPC’s brand promise of Strength Beyond. We provide the materials to build a strong national infrastructure, but we also want to make a contribution to building a strong nation as well,’ said Wicomb.

    Wicomb emphasised that the project is very much a community-focused enterprise. Local contractors were used in the construction of the pitches, and the pitches will also be used for children from outside the school who play in the JP21 Project League. The pitches will thus be a community asset, contributing to social cohesiveness and improve quality of life, ‘and clear demonstration of what we mean by strength beyond the bag of cement,’ added Wicomb.

    Clint Wicomb, general manager coastal region at PPC (red T-shirt), cutting the ribbon to the pitch

    The launch event included an interactive coaching clinic, as members of the JP21 Foundation and PPC joined in to show the children just how much fun cricket is.

    ‘We hope that these pitches – as we have handed about five pitches in Mitchell’s Plain over the recent past – will play a role in helping the children in these communities, which today includes Spine View Primary School learners, reach their individual potential while having a lot of fun. And, of course, we hope that we may yet see one or two of them striding on to the turf at PPC Newlands one day!’ Wicomb concluded.

    Photos: PPC

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    SA CRICKET