It is encouraging to see South Africa's youth showing a keen interest in the game of cricket. PPC Cement and Barloworld, are proud to be associated with cricket development as sport lies in the heart of a winning nation.

The PPC Cement Pitches Programme was launched in 1997. It is a joint initiative between PPC Cement, its holding company - Barloworld - and the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA). The objective of this Programme is to develop winning, local, regional and national teams of the future.

The PPC Cement Pitches Programme is well on track to reach the goal of completing 1000 concrete pitches and 23 ovals by the 2003 Cricket World Cup, which should ultimately boost cricket development throughout the country.

To date, the PPC Cement Pitches Programme has been responsible for the construction of 722 concrete pitches and practice nets, eleven ovals and two clubhouses throughout South Africa's provincial cricket regions.

As part of PPC's commitment to uplift the communities in which it operates, all these facilities were built by contractors drawn from the local commminities. In addition, these contractors were trained in basic concrete technology and provided with technical assistance, in an effort to enhance their future prospects through the skills that they have acquired.

© United Cricket Board of South Africa