WP betting on players to lead union out of the mire
● Still hamstrung by crippling financial shortcomings, Western Province cricket is looking to follow the example of its players hoping that a more unified, progressive outlook will provide stability in the future.
Mired in controversy stemming from political battles between clubs over finances, race and even religion, WP’s problems have been reflected in a dilapidated Newlands, which received a sanction from the ICC over the state of the pitch used for the New Year’s Test, while the organisation needed a bailout from Cricket SA to host that marquee match against India and the subsequent SA20.
While not seeking to paper over the cracks and the challenges that lie ahead for the union, Cricket SA CEO Pholetsi Moseki said the future is looking better.
“There has been a lot of work done, and the environment is a lot more stable,” said Moseki.
It needed to be because for too long WP cricket became distracted by petty politics. It took Moseki and CSA board chair Lawson Naidoo to remind the union’s administrators of their responsibilities, and then to begin steadying the rocking WP ship with a R26m rescue package and the parachuting in of Corrie van Zyl as interim administrator.
“We felt we needed ‘our person’ to oversee the stabilising of affairs and luckily, through that, people there are starting to cooperate. They could have been hostile, but they never were and everyone is aligned now. So much progress has been made but a lot still needs to be done,” said Moseki.
That is perhaps reflected on the players, a generation of whom seemed to be distracted by all the upheaval in the changeroom. Before this season’s victory in the One-Day Cup, it had been 10 trophyless years for the union, going back to the franchise era when the team that played out of Newlands was known as the Cape Cobras.
“It has been tough in the past,” said WP captain Kyle Verreynne, who led his side to a second final this season in the Four-Day Series, which will reach a conclusion at the Wanderers today.
As a larger squad, we made sure to focus on the cricket, that the cricket was the main thing
Kyle Verreynne
WP captain
“When Salieg (Nackerdien, WP’s head coach) appointed me full-time (as captain) one of my biggest messages was that as players and management we have to find a way to keep our circle small and focus on what we can control.
“If you are doing your work at training then there really isn’t any excuse for not performing,” said Verreynne. Besides success on the field, Verreynne, David Bedingham, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Dane Paterson and Ed Moore have played for the Proteas this season.
“As a larger squad, we made sure to focus on the cricket, that the cricket was the main thing and if we can find a way to win games and trophies in the circumstances we face at WP, then it not only helps us grow but it slowly starts creeping into the administration.”
Verreynne referenced the acquisition of World Sports Betting as a front-line sponsor as a sign that the players’ performances were casting the union in a better light.
Van Zyl, who has filled in many gaps at CSA over the years in an interim capacity from Proteas head coach to de facto director of cricket while performing a similar role to his current one at WP with Border — is expected to remain in position until the end of the season.
Crucially, WP are set to announce a new CEO by the end of the month, with the oddson favourite for the position the current CEO of KwaZulu-Natal, Heinrich Strydom. Though an outsider, the work he did in KZN helping to turn around that union, from a playing and commercial perspective along with revitalising Kingsmead, has marked him out as one of the best administrators in the sport.