Lions Cricket joined hands once again with much-valued partners DP World, in todayâs launch of the South African leg of its Beyond Boundaries initiative, which is set to ignite the passion for cricket among the countryâs youth by increasing access to the sport.
A bespoke DP World container fully kitted out with cricket equipment, that can double as a donation bank to drive continuous upliftment for communities in need, was revealed at the DP World Wanderers Stadium today. It is one of fifty repurposed containers globally pledged by DP World over the next five years, which will reach the communities that need them most across the world. The container will remain at the stadium and act as a donation and collection hub for back-to-school essentials, female sanitary products, and second-hand sporting equipment, to name a few.
Mohammed Akoojee, DP Worldâs CEO & MD for sub-Saharan Africa said âSouth Africa is a great cricketing nation, having produced some of the worldâs most iconic cricketers to grace the sport. As DP World, we are honoured to be able to facilitate wider developmental level access to the sport, through this initiative, and go beyond boundaries to support the communities that need it most,â.
Jono Leaf-Wright, Lions Cricket CEO said âThe donation of this bespoke container will provide us with a collection hub from which we can launch and grow our community initiatives like the collection of cricket kits, non-perishable foods, car seats for kids and shoe drives, to name but a handful of the CSI activities that we action as the DP World Lions and DP World Wanderers Stadium. We are most grateful to be part of this global programme and would like to thank DP World for their ongoing commitment to us and the broader cricket community we serveâ.
The initiative is part of DP Worldâs global ambition to create meaningful access for grassroots clubs around the world offering the best in sporting equipment, in an effort to unearth and nurture the next generation of cricketing talent. Included within the container is bespoke kits each made up of a cricket bat, helmet, gloves and pads.
DP World first launched the initiative in India last year, in partnership with the International Cricket Council (ICC), and with one of the most prolific batsmen of all time, Sachin Tendulkar, as the global ambassador. The reverse side of the South African container reveals a visually striking mural that celebrates not only Tendulkarâs remarkable achievements in international cricket, but also incorporates a proudly South African visual flair created by artist Dbongz Mahlathi.
The Beyond Boundaries initiative has thus far been successfully rolled out in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai and Dubai, and is set for roll-out across more African countries during the course of the year.
âOur ambition is to grow the game of cricket and make it widely available to many. With the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup concluding in the country a few weeks ago, we hope that the kitted container inspires and drives more inclusivity within the sport to ensure its sustainability. Furthermore, we look forward to visiting communities across the continent over the next year, bringing the love of the sport of cricket to their door,â Akoojee added.
As part of the five-year pledge, DP World will continue to leverage its interconnected global network and smart logistics capabilities across 75 countries and six continents to distribute the repurposed container at strategic locations around the world.
Those present at the unveiling included DP World Lions Mens head coach Russell Domingo as well as Bowling Coach Allan Donald.
