"If we can do it at one location we can do it at two locations, and two becomes four…"
Well, we are currently at three and have high hopes of growing the Foundation further so we can give Mike the legacy that he deserves.
1977
Defending a total of just 180 in the Benson & Hedges Cup semi-final, with probably the two best opening batters in the world, Gordon Greenidge and Barry Richards, looking well set at the wicket, Mike Procter put in one of his legendary performances. His four wickets in five balls (many said it should have been five in six) reduced Hampshire to 18 for 4. Mike’s team, Gloucestershire, went on to win by 7 runs. Mike was the victorious captain in the final at Lord’s against Kent the following month.
The Foundation
Achieving great things was something Mike made a habit of, and his aspirations for the Foundation he set up after retiring from professional cricket reflect this. He wanted to better the lives of children struggling every day in his native South Africa. Initially he ran cricket coaching sessions at the Ottawa Primary School in the deprived area of Phoenix, northern Durban, with has friend Rodney Malanga (himself an accomplished fast bowler who represented South Africa in the 2020 Over-50s World Cup). However, it became clear that this did not give a great “reach”. Providing more general sports and life skills coaching meant that the whole school could benefit. Seeing the smiles on the faces of the children was all the encouragement Mike needed.
The original focus of nurturing elite sport gave way to improving the lives of as many as possible. So, Mike set his eyes on replicating the Ottawa model to other areas. His mantra was, “if we can do it at one location we can do it at two locations, and two becomes four...”
The location count is now up to three, the latest in Acornhoek in the north of the country. Setting up and developing separate operations has allowed the Foundation to identify the key ingredients to make a success of new opportunities as they arise. These include:
Community Leader
Getting buy-in from the local community is essential. No matter how worthy the objective or how much benefit could accrue to the community, this type of project will inevitably fail if the local powers that be are wary of it.
The Acornhoek project is lucky to have Elta Sayiya (pictured above), founder of Harry Mnisi Foundation (which honours her late brother), driving it. Elta is a qualified nurse who works in the NHS for half the year and then returns to South Africa where she invests the funds she has saved within the community. Elta’s local knowledge and networking skills are vital for the success of the activities at Acornhoek.
Head Coach
Vincent Mokoena (pictured above) is a qualified cricket coach from Bushbuckridge around 40 miles from Acornhoek. He is highly respected. He is able to bring knowledgeable and skilled support from the school where he is a teacher to each coaching session.
Assistant Coach
Asive Tafeni (pictured above) has been an assistant coach with MPF for several years, starting at Ottawa school and then helping move it to the local community to increase inclusiveness. Asive was a foundling and raised in great poverty. She is a single mother with two young children. The wage she gets from her coaching job is vital to the viability of her family unit.
If we can find an Elta, a Vincent and an Asive in an area we have the makings of a successful new project.
Veterans Cricket Association of South Africa (VCASA)
The potential for applying the MPF model across the country has been picked up by VCASA. The Association has approaching 2,000 members, many of whom hold professional coaching qualifications. VCASA’s geographical coverage and skills base is a wonderful match with MPF. Mike was an early and active supporter of VCASA. So collaboration feels all the more apt. A possible new location for a community coaching programme just outside Cape Town has been identified by Chair Roger Moult and Proteas Over-60s captain Roy Meeser. So maybe one will have become four very soon.
Tales from the Township
It was the Acorns’ first ever away match. Everyone was excited, looking forward to competing against other teams! The first player arrived at 6.30am, Prince, waiting in the dark, making sure he didn’t miss the bus. Little did he know the bus would be two hours late! The Acorns won their match and sang and danced and shouted the name of their inspiration, “Mike Procter.”
Please visit our website to hear a message from our Patron Stephen Fry: https://mikeprocterfoundationuk.org/
Mike Procter Foundation UK, 8 The Breach, Devizes SN10 5BJ