KFC launches virtual cricket coaching

KFC has decided to take care of young cricketers during this covid19 pandemic by bringing on board the KFC Spicy Online cricket coaching programme. 

They are partnering with Rodeo Communications owners of Cricket360 and the Kumar Rampat Cricket Academy.

Speaking at the launch, KFC's vice-president Roger Rambharose said: "I know that this is the festive season but we are here for cricket and youth development which is a major thrust for the KFC brand. This programme was born from the covid19 lockdown. 

"Where we saw a critical need for kids to remain active at home and most importantly for the kids who liked cricket to have access to quality coaching tips from qualified and experienced coaches and players. Thus, in partnership with Vinode Mamchan of Rodeo Communications and Cricket360, our virtual coaching programme was born.

"This programme was even recognised by our global KFC CEO Tony Lowings, who is another avid cricket fan. In the 2021 programme, we have decided to take it up a level. We have engaged one of the most experienced coaches in the region, Kumar Rampat and Krishan Rampat and their Cricket Academy in this project, as they are respected as running one of the best cricket academies in the Caribbean. They have produced many talented cricketers at all levels of TT and West Indies cricket right here at the KRCA."

"We are looking in the first season to have 14 episodes, each half an hour long and we will be using Cricket360 media platforms to distribute the content to young cricketers. 

"I will also take this opportunity to extend this programme for free to be used by the relevant government ministries if they so choose. This programme has been endorsed by the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) and Secondary Schools Cricket Council. I will like to thank Azim Bassarath and Dudnath Ramkeesoon, and the president of the Secondary School Cricket League Surujdath Mahabir for their support on this initiative."

Also present at the launch, which took place at KFC Endeavour, was Ramkeesoon, the acting CEO of the TTCB. He said the board is fully in support of this venture and will be lending support in anyway they can. 

Ramkeesoon said, "We are very happy that KFC has taken this initiative with Cricket360 and KRCA. We live in an age where we want the kids to be involved in meaningful activities and this is one way we can get them to do something positive. I like the online idea because the covid(19) is here and not going anywhere soon. We need to reach out to these kids and this is a great way to do just that."

Mahabir said it's an idea that will help secondary school cricketers. "Our young cricketers will be able to lap up this from a well respected and qualified coach in Kumar Rampat." The school teacher added: "Just as we have online classes for academics here comes online cricket coaching as well and this I must add is a brilliant idea by Roger Rambharose a great friend of cricket and KFC."

Rampat, in his address, urged kids to keep looking at the sessions over and over again. "Those sessions will be on the Cricket360 platforms where you can access it over and over again and I want to urge young cricketers and cricketers, on the whole, to use it as much as you can to work on your game. This comes to you at no cost because of the generous heart of KFC."

The sessions will start rolling out from the second week of January and all cricketers will be given advance notice when they can start benefitting.