Johannesburg – Lions Cricket are proud to launch another first, this time in the form of community club cricket: The Diadora Jozi Cup.
The T20 competition spans across 12 age groups from under 11 through to Veterans and to date has a total of 85 teams and over 1200 players who have entered the 2022 edition. Played with a pink ball, the men and womens competition was created with the aim of extending the community club cricket season, with the Winter competition ensuring that more competitive cricket be played. This, in turn, should increase membership numbers so says Lions Cricket CEO Jono Leaf-Wright;
“The finals across all age groups will take place at the Imperial Wanderers Stadium over the Youth Day weekend namely Thursday 16 June – Sunday 19 June: A fitting weekend to celebrate a competition that is whole-heartedly supported by the City of Joburg Executive Mayor, Dr Mpho Phalatse in celebration of our youth and the important role they play in the cricketing development pipeline. To make the tournament self-sustainable, sponsors and partners purchased clubs, with an excess of R575 000 being raised at the first club auction held. Directly re-invested into the competition, it is our aim to grow our community clubs and their all-important feeder systems.”
Proud headline sponsor Diadora will provide full kit to all participating teams, and selected matches will be streamed via the Supersport Schools. Premier A, Premier B, Senior Men, Senior Lades, Girls u13, Girls u16 and Veterans will play on 8, 15, 22 and 29 May as well as 5 and 12 June 2022. Boys u11, Boys u13, Boys u15, Boys u16 and Boys u18 will play on 29 May as well as 5, 12, 16 and 17 June 2022. All 12 divisional finals will be played at the Imperial Wanderers on 16, 17, 18 and 19 June where a carnival of cricket will be enjoyed at the iconic stadium.
Diadora’s Zaheer Saloojee echoes the company’s mission statement that sports is not just a matter of results achieved, goals exceeded, records beaten or breaking limits;
“All sports teach us that every step, whatever may be, could be the most important one, in sport as well as in life. The performance of our next step can be decisive. Diadora exists so each step of ours can leave a mark.”
Leaf-Wright concludes by saying; “It is our aim that in time, this tournament will become like India’s global premier league tournament (IPL) for our clubs – all within the Lions Cricket community club structure.”
Entries into The Diadora Jozi Cup are open to all Community Clubs. Please note that any private teams, school teams and academies must affiliate to a Central Gauteng Lions affiliated community club in order to get entry into The Diadora Jozi Cup. For additional information, please contact our Lions Cricket administrator Sherina : sherina@cricket.co.za or visit lionscricket.co.za.
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