MEMBER OF THE FIGHT AGAIN VILLAGE CRICKET CLUB TRAIN IN THE EASTERN CAPE, 2002-12-26 (photo)

Members of the "Fight Again" village cricket team train in the rural Eastern Cape province on December 26, 2002. With less than a month to go before the start of the World Cup, cricket passions are running strong in some parts of South Africa. While the game has often been seen as a traditionally white dominated sport in South Africa, tournaments such as this one, the "Amacal'egusha" (meaning "Half a sheep") cricket tournament, have been played since the 1920's between villages in the region. A lack of facilities has not dampened enthusiasm for the sport amongst whole communities in the province, home of national players Makhaya Ntini and Monde Zondeki, both included in the country's World Cup squad. PICTURE TAKEN DECEMBER 26, 2002 REUTERS/Mike Hutchings MH