KZNCU looking forward to new season after successful AGM
Durban – There was much to celebrate as the KwaZulu-Natal Cricket Union
hosted its first virtual Annual General Meeting on Monday evening and
while reflecting on some important achievements, much attention was
focussed on how the union can continue to improve from both a playing and
administrative perspective.
KZN Cricket continued on its upward trend during the financial year ended
on 30 April 2020 when it received another unqualified audit report,
finished first in the CSA EPG & Transformation Scorecard and showed
another improvement on the CSA Operational Scorecard where it scored 100%
for governance, 96% for finance and administration, 89% for youth cricket
and 85% for their RPC/Hub development programmes.
KZN Cricket achieved its best financial results in the last ten years, a
combined profit of just over R5 million over its two entities. This was
achieved whilst also increasing its spend on the RPC/Hubs development
program to just over R10 million.
From a playing perspective the Hollywoodbets Dolphins won the Momentum One
Day Cup, the Hollywoodbets KZN Coastal side shared the CSA 3-Day Cup and
Hollywoodbets KZN Inland made the CSA T20 Cup final. The Hollywoodbets KZN
Coastal Women's team finished in the top four of the national competition
and ultimately the union produced eleven Proteas.
CEO of KZN Cricket Heinrich Strydom said he was grateful for the support
he has received over the past financial year.
"I want to thank my entire cricket family for the loyal support, selfless
service and commitment to ensure the sustainability of cricket," Strydom
said. "Our success over the past year is attributable to every person who
made cricket a part of their lives. I wish to thank our KZNCU President,
Ben Dladla, for his devoted leadership and sound guidance.”
"I wish to thank those selfless individuals involved in the KZN governance
structures for ensuring a sound foundation for the operational part of our
business. Also to Cricket South Africa and all my fellow affiliate and
franchise CEO’s for the support and sharing of best practices.”
"I would also like to thank all the volunteers, administrators, coaches,
umpires, scorers, and ground staff involved at the various levels of our
district, club, school, and development activities."
During the year KZN Cricket signed on Hollywoodbets as Kingsmead, Dolphins
and women team sponsors until 2024 and Strydom appreciates their support
as well as all the partners that helped make this past year a success.
"I would like to make special mention of our phenomenal partners who have
committed to walk this journey with us. They are all industry leaders and
excellent examples of what can be achieved through hard work, passion and
innovation.
"It has been a privilege to learn from each of them and I am sincerely
grateful to be able to consider them family.
"This family include Hollywoodbets, Fourways Airconditioning, East Coast
Radio, Independent Newspapers, Department of Sport and Recreation, Sunfoil,
SAB, Coca Cola, Hirsch’s, TK, Mancosa, Kookaburra, Mount Edgecombe, Sorbet
Man, PVM, Safilo Eyewear, Solly M Sports, Kemach Equipment, LOTTO and Gap
Debt Solutions."
This past financial year saw the roll out of Operation Kingsmead where a
number of upgrades where made throughout the stadium. The practice area
was revamped, the Hollywoodbets Food Court was introduced and the Castle
Corner Food Court was revamped.
A new SAB Deck was built in the South Stand and behind the West Stand
there is the SAB Walk of Fame, and the players' change rooms, umpires area
and players' dining areas were also revamped and upgraded along with the
inclusion of the Fourways Airconditioning Players Chill Room.
President of KZN Cricket Ben Dladla was happy that the union could
celebrate a successful season, however knows that they can continue to
improve heading into the new year despite the unknowns surrounding the
COVID-19 pandemic.
"It is pleasing to see the number of cricket hubs increase in our
province," Dladla said. "This is our commitment to grow the game of
cricket in the whole province. It will also help us to increase the number
of township clubs. To help facilitate this, our coaching instructor will
be tasked to focus more on the development of black coaches, as a key part
of our transformation programme.
"I am also repeating my call for the involvement and the inclusion of
women into this beautiful game.
"This should not be seen as a favour to women, it is our responsibility.
We must increase the number of women administrators and strengthen our
women and girls teams.”
"In the same vein we must also involve our differently abled community. We
have transformation targets to achieve. I implore district to come up with
strategies to develop and promote women involvement.”
For more information visit
www.dolphinscricket.co.za
ENDS
