Maasai Warriors put down their spears and take up blindfolds to learn about blind cricket


As part of a week-long visit to Notts, the mighty Maasai Warriors Cricket Team will put down their spears and take up blindfolds, as they square up to the intrepid blind and partially sighted cricketers of the Nottinghamshire Knights Cricket Team in a unique demonstration of blind cricket this Friday 24 of August at Thurgarton Cricket Club 12-3pm.
Listening skills are as important as batting ability!
Team Captain, Ryan Wilcock will bravely lead the charge for the Nottinghamshire Knights Visually impaired cricket team n a demonstration of cricket for people with sight loss – where listening skills are just as important as batting abilities! Ryan, aged just 21 from Bingham was partially sighted from birth but has lost even more vision in the last two years and is now registered blind.
Sport helps me cope with sight loss
“Losing more of my sight as a teenager has been a terrifying experience but sport has always helped me deal with my lack of vision. When I’m playing cricket I lose myself in the physical freedom of the sport. I can forget the restrictions imposed by sight loss and just enjoy it without thinking about anything else.
Demonstration of blind cricket
“This is my first season as Captain of the Nottinghashire Knights, which is a young team with tons of enthusiasm! We’re really looking forward to demonstrating to the Maasai Warriors the unique and very different challenges of playing cricket in a blindfold using a size 3 football with ball bearing inside it. It will feel like a very different game to what they’re used to and we’re really looking forward to meeting them, showing them what we can do and demonstrating the accessibility of the great game of cricket.
They have their spears but we have our white canes!
“They may have their spears but we have our white canes and the cricket pitch will be a great leveller! We’re grateful to them for being brave enough to accept our challenge, we hope they enjoy what they learn from us about visually impaired cricket. We know that like us, they are committed to breaking down barriers and to promoting sport for all, so it should be a great afternoon for everyone involved.”
Nottinghamshire Knights VI Cricket
The Nottinghamshire Knights Visually Impaired Cricket Team is sponsored by local sight loss charity, My Sight Notts, which this year is celebrating 175 years of supporting local blind and partially sighted people. The team currently plays in the BCEW Development League, although Ryan sometimes trains with the England Squad and has ambitions to one day play for his county and develop his young Nottinghamshire Knights team further.
Maasai Cricket Warriors tour UK
The Maasai Warriors are touring the UK to raise awareness of gender inequality, the End FGM Campaign, hate crime, modern slavery, conservation and promoting their culture and country.
Hosted by Mojatu Foundation and Nottingham Trent University, the Warriors will be taking part in activities such as cricket matches and festivals, fashion shows and music, a conference, meet and greets, a film screening, Q&A sessions and cultural events.
Educate communities on social justice
Formed in 2007, the Maasai Warriors use their fame and love for cricket as an inspiration to educate communities on social justice and give young people a sense of belonging, support and hope through community and school visits. Playing in their traditional clothing, blood-red shukas and bright, beaded necklaces, symbolising the importance of maintaining and promoting the positive aspects of their culture. They are famous for drawing on their skills of spear throwing and using a shield to bat and bowl.
Hosted by Mojatu Foundation
Valentine Nkoyo, CEO of Mojatu Foundation who are hosting the tour, said “It has been my dream for four years now to bring this team from my Maasai community to the UK.” Keen to stress the vital work that they do, she continues: “The team is changing attitudes to value greater equality for all.”