Staddon refutes racism claims

[maehara]

More fallout from Tuskers' woeful season:

MATABELELAND Tuskers chief executive officer Stanley Staddon has refuted claims that racism was affecting the team's performance but acceded to that there were problems. Staddon told Chronicle Sport at the Matabeleland Tuskers chairman’s cocktail that players only fought for first jerseys in the team.

“I have heard rumours claiming that there are racial problems in the team. I would like to categorically state that there are no such things in our team. The only problem we heard emanated from players fighting for first team positions and that in turn affected their performances. We do not condone racism,” said Staddon.

Matabeleland Tuskers have performed badly this season even though they had assembled a strong squad. They are second from the bottom in the Logan Cup Four-Day competition and finished bottom of the log in the Faithwear/Metropolitan Bank One-Day game, managing only one win. In the Stanbic Bank Twenty20 Series, Matabeleland Tuskers finished fourth.

Reliable sources at Matabeleland Tuskers confided to this publication that there were racial problems that affected the team’s performance. It is also alleged that there were some players who were embroiled in a heated argument during one of the matches and favouritism claims have been levelled at coach Robin Brown.

Plans are under way for the franchise to reduce the number of contracted players when their contracts expire in July.

“I am tired of people telling me that on paper we are the best side. We play cricket on the field and I am disappointed that Tuskers players have not performed to the best of their ability. As a result a number of them (players) have lost places in the national team where at one time we had six players in the Zimbabwe side and now there are only two. All contracts for technical staff and players are expiring on 31 July and we shall be negotiating with new terms. At the moment we have 22 contracted players and we will reduce that number to 15 so that we have a competitive side. We may offer contracts to 10 up-and-coming cricketers but this is subject to securing funding from ZC and sponsors. So players who are not giving their best will be dropped,” said Staddon.

Fast bowler Christopher Mpofu and Charles Coventry are the only players from Matabeleland Tuskers who are still with the national team. Tawanda Mupariwa, Mark Vermeulen, Sean Williams and Keith Dabengwa were regulars in the national team until recently. The fact that the four players are not in the national team is a true reflection of the team’s poor performance.

Chances are high that Brown’s contract will not be renewed as he failed to win silverware out of three competitions — Logan Cup, Faithwear/Metropolitan Bank 50-over tournament and the Stanbic Bank Series.

Matabeleland Tuskers cricket franchise’s development plans have been affected by lack of trained personnel and funding.
ZC funds to Matabeleland Tuskers have been coming in drips and drabs.

“The emphasis of the franchise is on developing the sport in Bulawayo Metropolitan and Matabeleland North provinces. We need more coaches to broaden the game to targeted levels. Robin Brown will conduct coaching clinics and will be assisted by the franchise's contracted players during the school holidays. Availed funds have been coming in tranches and we are using them to run the franchise. By the end of the year ZC would have availed all the money due to us and that includes development funds,” said Staddon.

The Tuskers CEO could not be drawn into revealing the exact amount that they had received from ZC.

[zimfan1]

Look past the Racism claims which i am dissapointed have once arisen. Looks like there may be a big transfer of players over the close season and be intresting to see who ends up where. I think it will be a good oppotunity for players such as Vermulen to make a fresh start at somewhere like the Mid West Rhinos.

[maehara]

Look past the Racism claims which i am dissapointed have once arisen.

That will be the Chronicle trying to stir things up a little, I suspect - although Tuskers' poor performances do make it easy for them to start taking potshots. There would have been no such comments if the side was winning, I'm sure...

Looks like there may be a big transfer of players over the close season and be intresting to see who ends up where. I think it will be a good oppotunity for players such as Vermulen to make a fresh start at somewhere like the Mid West Rhinos.

Always thought Tuskers were signing too many players for their own good. Always switching the side around and never letting it settle was probably one of their main problems this season.