Arafat advises Kent youngsters

Kent and Pakistan cricket star Yasir Arafat dropped in to see children at the Kent Spitfires multi-activity day.

Arafat talked to the children about life as a professional cricketer, his side strain that has kept him out of action for the last three weeks and his idols who include Imran Khan and Waqar Younis.

New Spitfires Centre manager Ben Taylor explained the impact that time with a top professional like Arafat can have on young people, saying: “It’s great for the children to meet the Kent players. Yasir answered lots of questions and it really made the day for many of the kids.

Kent seamer Yasir Arafat poses with children from the Canterbury area at the new Spitfires Centre

“It’s things like this that really improve the children’s motivation and anything that fires their interest in sport and physical activity has to be a good thing.”

The children, mostly from the Canterbury area, were taking part in two multi-activity days at the St Lawrence Ground organised by Margate Learning Zone manager Andy Moore.

The children got to work in the study centre and participated in lots of sports such as cricket, football and basketball.

The Spitfires Study Centre is part of the nationwide ‘Playing For Success’ initiative which aims to foster self-esteem and motivation in young people by working with sports venues and clubs.

Taylor added that he was looking forward to working with many of the local schools in the near future, with schools such as Eastry Primary and Bridge & Patrixbourne Primary already booked in for the coming term.

There will be another multi-activity day on Friday 31st October and anyone wishing to book a place or find out more information can contact the Kent Spitfires Study Centre on 01227 473619.