As the Proteas Women head into the T20 World Cup looking to claim their first world title, some of South Africa’s tiniest players are training very hard to ensure they are well prepared for the call up as the nation’s back up team.
Introducing the Mini High-Performance Programme, a training experience that sees KFC Mini-Cricket players aged six to 13 put through elite athlete-style preparation typically reserved for professionals.
Recovery sessions. Tactical batting reviews. Sprint conditioning. Pressure simulation drills. And yes, ice baths.
New footage released from Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg shows young cricketers undergoing intense bowling analysis alongside seasoned pros, throwing themselves into highly committed fielding drills and delivering remarkable performances post tactical review sessions.
The result is a striking, but chaotic and hilarious contrast between the seriousness of elite sport and the unfiltered joy of childhood.
There were a few questions fielded around the actual temperature of the ice baths, after reliable sources hinting that some ice baths may have been “a little on the warm side”.
Another query was raised by a mini batter asking whether scoring six sixes in an over would permanently exempt them from homework forever. Negotiations are reportedly ongoing.
While the national squad competes on the global stage, KFC is shining a light on where the love of the game actually begins: grassroots cricket. Because while pressure, expectation and history may shape the professional game, Mini-Cricketers still approach cricket with complete joy, imagination and possibility.
And that, according to KFC, is worth celebrating.
“As our Proteas Women show what belief and performance look like at the highest level, we wanted to celebrate where that actually begins,” says KFC Africa General Manager Akhona Qengqe. “This campaign playfully imagines what would happen if South Africa’s smallest cricketers were treated like elite athletes.”
“The contrast is funny because the kids take it so seriously,” she says. “But underneath the humour is something very real. These children genuinely love the game, and many of them already dream of becoming future Proteas.”
The initiative also reinforces the very real pathway between KFC Mini-Cricket and South African cricket at the highest level. 80% of the current Proteas Women’s squad began their cricket journeys in KFC Mini-Cricket, which has introduced more than 2.5 million children to the game since the inception of the programme.
“After 17 years of KFC Mini-Cricket, we remain committed to growing the game from the ground up,” says Qengqe. “It is about celebrating these shared beginnings and realised potential, where play transforms into pride, and these mini players become tomorrow’s mighty Proteas.”
Cricket South Africa’s Chief Executive Officer, Pholetsi Moseki, says, “Our long-established partnership with KFC reinforces the shared vision we have to nurture future talent, and keep the love of the game thriving across South Africa.”
While no official national selection decisions have yet been confirmed, morale inside the mini training camp remains exceptionally high.
At least one player has reportedly requested a personalised bat sponsorship deal, while another asked whether post-match interviews count as extra-curricular activities.
South Africa’s future stars are officially in training. And based on current ice-bath performances, the future looks remarkably resilient.