Majola hails Kallis for his contribution to youth development
Cricket South Africa CEO Gerald Majola has hailed Jacques Kallis for the sterling work his Foundation is doing to provide talented young cricketers from various backgrounds with the opportunity to reach their full sporting and academic potential.
Speaking ahead of the Jacques Kallis Scholarship Foundation Golf Challenge 2009, which takes place this Friday at De Zalze Golf Club in Stellenbosch, Majola said: "Jacques Kallis is not only one of the greatest all-rounders in South African and world cricket history, he is also a very humble and caring person.
"This special quality led him a few years ago to launch the Jacques Kallis Scholarship Foundation which raises funds to provide education bursaries to talented young cricketers from various backgrounds.
"Already 16 young people have had their lives changed most positively through Jacques' intervention, and there will certainly be many more in the future.
"CSA fully endorses and supports the Jacques Kallis Scholarship Foundation, and we urge both the corporate and public sectors to assist this most worthy cause.
"CSA congratulates and salutes Jacques on both his extraordinary cricketing career and his commitment to the advancement of South African youth in this meaningful way."
Kallis, who will join the Proteas' Standard Bank ODI squad , at a camp at Potchefstroom at the weekend to prepare for the ICC Champions' Trophy tournament, said: " Starting the Foundation was a combination of several events. When Western Province gave me my benefit four years ago, I decided that I wanted to put something back into the game and, after discussions with my agent, Dave Rundle, I decided that this was the best way to go.
"I was also well aware of the sacrifices my father had made to send me to a quality school such as Wynberg. There are a lot of talented cricketers who do not get the opportunity to go to a top quality school such as Wynberg, Selborne, Maritzburg College and Pretoria Boys' High (the four schools involved in the project).
"By next year there will have been 20 youngsters enrolled in this project and it has been heartening to see their progress not just as cricketers but as young men.
"Cricket has done so much to enrich my own life. It has made me wonderful friends, enabled me to tour countries that I would not have gone to otherwise and to experience different cultures.
"If I had my life over again, I would not do things any differently to the way my career has gone."
Through the backing of Dale Capital and Sekunjalo Capital, The Jacques Kallis Foundation:
- Provides the financial support of R40 000 per scholar per year committed for a five- year period
- Selects the final candidates from a partner school shortlists utilizing the scholarship foundation criteria
- Provides a central administration service
- Provides a cricketing high performance mentoring support program
- Provides an ongoing Jacques Kallis communication program
- Stages an annual camp for Jacques Kallis Scholars
MICHAEL OWEN-SMITH
MEDIA OFFICER
CRICKET SOUTH AFRICA
CELL 083 4124514
E-MAIL : michaelo@cricket.co.za
