Old Mutual Contributes to Cricket Academy

May 2 - When South African fast bowler cricket champion, Makhaya Ntini decided to follow his dream to open a cricket academy, one of his main problems was getting the necessary funding to do so.

But top life insurance company, Old Mutual has stepped in to once again accept the challenge of supporting an important social cause and donated R500 000 to Ntini's academy that will be based at the Willows Cricket Club in Mdantsane, East London.

Ntini will personally oversee the coaching of young cricket talent, though he will provide participants with more than just a cricket experience:? They will also be taught computer skills to supply them with valuable tools in other fields.

The managing director of Old Mutual South Africa, Paul Hanratty said: "We owe it to our country's youth to provide opportunities they can seize. Sport is an important shaper of young people and can build teamwork, focus and tenacity."

Commenting on Old Mutual's contribution, Hanratty said that "Makhaya has seized the opportunities available to him" and he hopes that the donation will open similar opportunities to a new generation of cricket players in the country.

Hanratty? mentioned that it was interesting that the cricket club would be set up in the Eastern Cape, which is one of Old Mutual's main target areas for economic transformation initiatives. "We live arguably in the most exciting country on earth," he said, "but face immense challenges, with poverty at the core. The Eastern Cape provides us with the opportunity to live our social investment ethos."

Ntini was notably thrilled when he accepted the check on behalf of the cricket academy and said: "There's never been a more exciting time to be playing sport for your country and there's never been a better time to be involved in sport development."