There’s no denying it, South African school cricket is about to get another major boost. Switch Energy Drink (who are currently running a competition) has just been announced as the new title partner of the Schools SA20 tournament, a nationwide platform that showcases the next generation of boys’ and girls’ cricket talent.
Beginning this weekend, over 630 schools will compete in Volume 2 of what has quickly become one of the country’s most exciting youth tournaments. For context, last year’s inaugural edition saw Steyn City School (girls) and Bishops Diocesan College (boys) walk away as national champions, with finals week hosted in Pretoria.
SA20 commissioner Graeme Smith described the partnership as a “brilliant opportunity to unearth future stars,” pointing to success stories such as Karabo Meso, who’s now part of the Women’s World Cup in India, and notably Bayanda Majola and JJ Basson, both recently signed to SA20 teams.
And honestly, that’s something to celebrate. South African cricket has long depended on strong school systems to nurture raw talent it’s the same pipeline that gave us names like Dewald Brevis, Kwena Maphaka, and Lhuan-dre Pretorius.
But here’s where we take a pause.
Because while we’re thrilled to see more investment in youth sports, we’re also uneasy about the role of an energy drink brand in a schools programme.
Of course, the comparison many will make is, “Well, what about KFC Mini Cricket?”and fair enough. Even then, I’ve always found that partnership complicated (though, to their credit, they don’t serve fried chicken to the kids). One hopes Switch will take a similar stance, promoting the sport, not the product itself.
It’s a tricky line to walk.
Sponsorships fund opportunities that might not otherwise exist, but we can’t ignore what it means when products that are not health-forward align themselves with youth programmes. It’s a conversation worth having, not to discredit the effort, but to make sure we’re all holding the right balance between progress and protection.
That said, this weekend’s kickoff marks an exciting chapter for young cricketers, boys, and girls across South Africa. Volume 2 of Switch Schools SA20 started Sunday, 28 September, in KwaZulu-Natal, with matches streaming live on the SuperSport Schools app and select games airing on DStv channel 216.
A future full of cricketing stars awaits. Let’s just make sure the energy behind them stays the right kind.
