By: Staff Writer
Cricket Namibia’s Ashburton Kwata Mini-Cricket Program has received a global award at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Annual General Meeting.
The programme, in partnership with Ashburton Investments, is Cricket Namibia’s flagship grassroots development initiative, integrated into the physical education periods of public schools across the country.
Operating actively in all 14 regions, this program has redefined what grassroots cricket can achieve, becoming a model for sustainable development on the continent.
In 2024, the programme recorded a total of 58,560 modified participants – 31,400 boys and 27,160 girls – making it the largest modified cricket initiative on the continent. Notably, Namibia’s participation numbers surpassed the combined totals of all other African nations, positioning the Ashburton Kwata Programme as a continental leader in cricket development.
“The focus of 2024 was to ensure that children had regular access to the game, played frequent matches, and developed a true love for cricket,” said Cricket Namibia CEO, Johan Muller. “We are deeply grateful to Ashburton Investments for their ongoing support and commitment to helping us grow the game across Namibia.”
Cricket Namibia Vice President, Polly Negongo, echoed the sentiment: “The Ashburton Kwata Program has been instrumental in advancing Cricket Namibia’s vision. It is our most valuable asset, consistently delivering results and placing Namibia on the global map.” Polly also told The Villager, “The award belongs to the children. It is because of them that we won the award. It’s a big achievement.”
What sets the programme apart is its commitment to continuity and structured play. The Ashburton Kwata Program ensures that the Namibian children enjoy regular access to cricket, playing structured matches in schools, villages, and rural communities.
“We are incredibly proud to have been part of this incredible development programme since 2014. The magnitude of this project in bringing cricket to the remotest areas of Namibia and consistently introducing the youth to cricket speaks to being fully invested in this sporting code and the development of our youth across the country. On behalf of the Ashburton Namibia team, I congratulate Cricket Namibia and the Kwata Development team.” Gert Grobler, COO, Ashburton Investments Namibia
Cricket Namibia reinforced its commitment to expanding the game’s reach, deepening its impact, and inspiring the next generation of Namibian cricketers—one community, one school, and one child at a time.
