Hollywoodbets has expanded sponsorship of cricket in KwaZulu-Natal a step further by becoming the major sponsor of the KZN Blind Cricket team. The Purple Team’s sponsorship includes a brand new purple playing kit, tracksuits, cricket equipment and travelling gear for the 2021/22 season.
Blind cricket is the fastest growing sport for visually impaired people both in South Africa and internationally. It is one of the few sports that is inclusive of both totally blind and partially sighted people. Different to normal cricket, Blind Cricket is played with a ball that contains metal ball bearings, which gives audible cues to the players. The stumps are also larger and painted in fluorescent colours, which allows partially sighted players to orientate themselves.
The KZN Blind Cricket team are currently in Gauteng where they are participating in the Blind Cricket South Africa (BCSA) National tournament, which is taking place from 4 – 7 October 2021.
The tournament is the highlight of the Blind Cricket calendar year and the annual domestic showpiece event. The nation’s best visually impaired cricket players are given the chance to put their skills on display across four days of cricketing action and bid for their place in the national team.
The Purple Family is also a headline sponsor for the event, covering accommodation for all the participating teams, meals, preparation and hire of the fields, COVID-19 testing, and live streaming for the 4-day tournament on Pitchvision.
Ndumiso Nyawose, the president of Blind Cricket KZN, says these sponsorships further cement Hollywoodbets as a leader in South African Blind Cricket and disability sports as a whole. “It is truly an honour to have the support of Hollywoodbets as a major sponsor for the KZN Blind Cricket team, as well as the BCSA National Tournament. This is a new exciting journey that mirrors our young exciting team with a bright future.”
Our sponsorship of cricket in KZN reaches from development and grassroots level to professional level, including the Umlazi Hub, various community cricket clubs around the province, the KZN Women’s cricket team, the Hollywoodbets Dolphins, and of course the naming rights to the Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium. “It only seemed right that we extend our sponsorship of the sport to Blind Cricket”, says Devin Heffer, Brand and Communications Manager for Hollywoodbets.
