WINDHOEK – The long-standing feud between Cricket Namibia and the national daily newspaper New Era Publications, has finally been resolved with differences put to bed.
The two parties have been on loggerheads after the English daily published damning reports over Cricket Namibia’s tortoise-paced approach towards transformation.
The article was not exactly taken lightly by cricket authorities at Love Street no. 9, who summarily severed ties with New Era telling the newspaper in no uncertain terms where to get off while point blankly refusing to feed the publication with vital information.
Disgruntled cricket fans from previously disadvantaged communities called for cricket authorities to come clean and own up to its hardcore stance to include cricketers of colour in the national teams.
This Cricket Namibia’s principal sponsor MTC, to launch a thorough investigation into the allegations whereas the findings proved to be in harmony with the allegations.
MTC in conjunction with the accused party (though the latter took up the challenge with a grain of salt) resolved to introduce racial quotas with immediate effect in an effort to speed up the process of including more cricketers of colour across all formats of the game.
However, the resolution was to be-short lived as Cricket Namibia failed to adhere to the agreement, thus obliging the sponsors (MTC) to pull the plug on their defying partners.
In the meantime, a change of guard in the administration of domestic cricket saw new faces coming on board with Dr Donovan Zealand replacing the departed Graeme McMillan, a South African national, as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
“We can’t burn bridges we need to build bridges since we can’t afford to pick fights with the media. We must work hand in glove with our media partners if we are to market the game properly in a bid to take the game of cricket to the next level,” says Dr Zealand.
The much-adored sports administrator added that the burning issue of transformation is among the top of his priorities but was quick to caution against high expectations.
“Realistically speaking, transformation will always be a daunting task without proper policies in place. It should also be clearly understood that when you develop policies, one must also set up targets and if you don’t meet those targets, it will come back to haunt you big time”.
For more information on new developments in the corridors of Cricket Namibia, watch this space, New Era Sports will bring you an exclusive interview with Dr Donovan Zealand in our weekly feature On the Spot, next week Friday.