CSA boss calls for new Gauteng philosophy

Article Published: Friday 31 July 2009
Written by: Administrator
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Cricket South Africa (CSA) President Dr Mtutuzeli Nyoka has called for transformation and a change of philosophy at the Gauteng Cricket Board (GCB).

Speaking to journalists about the row between CSA and GCB, Nyoka -himself a former chairman of the GCB - said the new philosophy should have cricket as a priority.

"Gauteng is one of the richest unions, yet, year after year, it languishes near the bottom of all the competitions," he said.

"Players, black and white, are also leaving Gauteng in droves, because cricket is not the priority in the province. Questions have to be asked when players like Graeme Smith and Blake Snijman leave their mother province and pursue their careers elsewhere."

Another matter of concern was the dearth of cricket clubs in black areas around Johannesburg.

"There used to be 22 thriving cricket clubs in Lenasia, for instance. Now there is one. An area the size of Soweto has just two cricket clubs.

The clubs are the nurseries for provincial players, and if the club system is not working, then it is not surprising that the GCB has to import players from other provinces.

Nyoka said he believed the Wanderers Stadium could become a centre of excellence, where cricketers of all ages came for coaching, coaches and umpires were trained, and people could learn about cricket.

Meanwhile, the mediation process aimed at resolving the bitter dispute between CSA and GCB began on Friday morning, when Nyoka and CSA legal adviser Max Boqwane met the two mediators, Brian Currin and Khaba Mamba to discuss the crisis.

Nyoka said, after an emergency meeting of the CSA Board on Thursday, that the mediators believed the dispute would be resolved in a matter of days.

"The dispute will be ended, but it will take a long time for relations between CSA and GCB to be normalised," said Nyoka.