[奇人奇事] Maasai Cricket Warriors: The colourful semi-nomadic cattle herders

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Meet the Maasai Cricket Warriors: The colourful semi-nomadic cattle herders promising to brighten up the sport

These are the Maasai Cricket Warriors - the semi-nomadic cattle herders vowing to brighten up their sport.

Ditching traditional whites for their colourful clothing and body decorations, the Kenyan tribesmen are in serious training.

Donning pads and armed with bats, the men from the Laikipia region this week left their tiny village for the Mombasa Legends Cricket Nursery.


Colourful: These are the Maasai Cricket Warriors - the semi-nomadic cattle herders vowing to brighten up their sport



Out there: They ditch traditional whites for colourful clothing and body decorations


Beach time: The players are aiming to be role models in their communities where they are actively campaigning against Female Genital Mutilation, early childhood marriages and are fighting for the rights of women

They now hope to travel to the Last Man Standing 2012 World Championships in Cape Town next month - the crowning event of the global eight-a-side amateur Twenty20 cricket league.

The players say they want to be role models in their communities by campaigning against traditional female circumcision and child marriages.

And through their cricket they also try to promote healthier lifestyles and spread awareness about HIV/AIDS among tribal youth, they added.

An online appeal for donations on the Maasai Cricket Warriors website said: 'By developing cricket and sports amongst Maasai youth and children the aim is to empower the youth in Maasai communities while enhancing their participation in community development, allowing them to become healthy, productive and well-adjusted members of society.'


Inspirational: Through playing cricket in regional communities they are trying to promote healthier lifestyles



Silhouette: The Warriors hope to play at the Last Man Standing 2012 World Championships in Cape Town next month


Warm up: The Maasai Cricket Warriors seen limbering up on the beach during a training session



Ripped: The Maasai Warriors look to be enjoying every minute that they are out on the cricket pitch


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By Lee Moran