The eagerly anticipated 2019 Pink One-Day International was officially launched at the Wanderers Stadium on Wednesday.
The Pink ODI game is set for Sunday 27 January 2019 at the Wanderers Stadium, and will see the Proteas in their pink kit play to a capacity crowd at one of the most iconic annual cricketing events in the world.
The Pink match will be the fourth ODI of the current series against Pakistan and the eighth edition of the popular fixture. An expected crowd of 24 000 will be rooting for the Proteas, who have yet to lose a Pink ODI.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) – together with sponsors Momentum and the Central Gauteng Lions (CGL) – have helped raise nearly R5-million for various breast cancer awareness organisations over the past six years. Last season alone, R1.7-million was raised for the chosen organisation, the Breast Care Clinic at the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital in Johannesburg.
This year CSA, together with sponsors Momentum, the Central Gauteng Lions and Bidvest are targeting R5-million from various events and activities, including the Momentum ODI PinkDay. All funds raised this year will again go towards supporting the Breast Care Clinic.
Once again CSA, CGL and partners Momentum have issued an invitation to the greater South African public to attend the game in support of raising money and to create general preventative awareness around breast cancer, as early detection is a key component in saving lives.
‘The Pink ODI is an important event in our CSA Calendar,’ said Cricket South Africa chief executive, Thabang Moroe.
‘Wearing pink in January for such a worthy cause has always been something we (CSA) and the Proteas take pride in and will do for many years to come. We are looking forward to seeing many cricket-loving fans, players, officials and stakeholders don the pink colours in support of the many women and men who continue to fight and survive breast cancer.
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‘PinkDay will once again demonstrate the remarkable power of how sport can mobilise support for a cause that affects millions of people around the world.’
Many CSA and CGL partners will again support PinkDay this season, with many of them making donations and creating awareness around breast cancer. The call is going out to wherever you are, think pink, wear pink, be aware and contribute to the fund-raising drive in support of breast cancer awareness.
‘We at the Central Gauteng Lions always look forward to hosting such an annual signature event that not only focuses on sport, but impacts on social change,’ commented Greg Fredericks, CEO of Central Gauteng Lions. ‘Breast cancer affects all of us and we all have the responsibility to get involved.
‘The Central Gauteng Lions are going the extra mile to support the 2019 campaign, with many exciting activities scheduled to take place at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium.’
For more information on how everyone can get involved, visit www.pinkday.co.za.
Carel Bosman, head of sponsorships at Momentum, commented: ‘We at Momentum are incredibly proud to be able to contribute to the success of PinkDay and to be supporting breast cancer awareness. The dedicated doctors and nurses supporting patients tell us that the earlier they are able to see and treat patients, the greater the chance of successful, life-saving treatment.
‘By raising the awareness and stressing the importance of regular self-examination, we know without a shadow of doubt that many lives are saved because of early detection in the battle against this dreadful disease. We are so grateful that so many South Aficans are showing support for the PinkDay cause, and we encourage everyone wherever they are to pitch up in pink, in mind, body or spirit.’
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Tickets for the event are sold out. However, a limited number of hospitality packages are still available on the Ticketpros website. Tickets for the new sports event shuttle service, Zeelo, are also available on the Ticketpros website. Zeelo delivers fans to a VIP drop-off directly outside the stadium from various convenient pick-up points around Johannesburg. No need to worry about traffic, to finding parking, or a long hike back to your car, or drinking and driving.
Replica Proteas Pink kits are available in men’s and ladies’ sizes at major leading sports goods stores nationwide.
Photo: Cricket South Africa