Gary Kirsten uses cricket as a tool to steer underprivileged youth away from drug usage.

Instead of on the streets but rather on the cricket field, a ray of light is beginning to appear in the center of Khayelitsha, a township notorious for its battles with drugs, violence, and poverty. World Cup-winning coach Gary Kirsten, who is credited with leading India to victory in 2011, has embarked on a quest to use cricket to change the story of this underprivileged area.

After the victory in India, Gary Kirsten went back to his roots and was shocked to see how little cricket was played in Khayelitsha. He founded the Gary Kirsten Foundation, formerly known as the Catch Trust Foundation, in 2014 because he was determined to make a difference. The main objective is to direct young people toward the cricket pitch and away from the grip of drugs and violence.

“I wanted to look at cricket in our poorest neighborhoods in Cape Town when I returned from India,” Kirsten remembered in an interview that was cited by NDTV.

“I was really unhappy to discover, during a visit to the area with local school officials, that there was no cricket being played. I had this idea for this center, and we began by installing two concrete nets in two schools before expanding to three more,” Kirsten added.

Like his meticulous cricket career, Kirsten’s foundation is progressively altering lives. “It keeps my body and lungs in good shape and helps me stay away from vices like smoking marijuana. “I envision myself as a future South African player,” says 15-year-old aspirant spinner Lukholo Malong.

The organization claims to have had a positive influence on more than 1000 children between the ages of five and nineteen while operating in five Khayelitsha schools. There is also a thriving women’s team, with several girls making it to the regional level of representation.

The foundation’s guiding idea states, “Talent is universal, opportunity is not.” The goal is to break down the barriers that frequently deny brilliant people opportunity by establishing sporting ecosystems in low-income communities. Lukholo Malong aspires to play for South Africa and looks up to Virat Kohli as an influence.

“Kohli is my favorite player because he never stops inspiring us to keep trying, work hard, and never give up because one day we will succeed. I’ve seen him on the field in Cape Town, but I will see him eventually,” he continued, emulating the fortitude that the organization promotes.

Over 2.4 million people live in Khayelitsha, which was founded in the midst of apartheid in 1983. The majority of these people are black Africans. Among the difficulties faced by the locals is the scarcity of clean water. The foundation’s goal is very clear: to give young people in these difficult situations access to sporting possibilities.

“I’ve always thought that providing talented athletes with good facilities, coaching, equipment, and playing experiences is the foundation for opening doors for them. We built this in Khayelitsha,” Kirsten said, highlighting the foundation’s all-encompassing strategy.

The foundation’s female coach, Babalwa Zothe, highlighted how cricket training had a life-changing effect on the children.

“We provide coaching at two high schools and three elementary schools. We primarily take interested children from the schools. It’s for everyone in the neighborhood since we let other kids come play with us too,” Zothe remarked.

The motto is: “Developing their talents on and off the field, while creating quality sporting and life skills.” Gary Kirsten

The charity has received recognition for its initiatives. They traveled to the UK for the World Cup in 2019 with 13 young players and two coaches from Khayelitsha. Famous athletes like Makhaya Ntini have made visits, motivating the upcoming talent to succeed on and off the field.

The center’s aim is to “create quality sporting and life skills programs to keep kids off the streets and develop their talents on and off the field.” Kirsten said, “Many well-known players, including Makhaya Ntini, have visited and encouraged them to do well.

Formerly demonstrated by his skill at cricket, Gary Kirsten’s tenacity now drives the foundation’s efforts to provide chances for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. One inning at a time, the Catch Trust Foundation is dedicated to constructing a future for the children of Khayelitsha—not only cricket.