U19 World Cup | South Africa | Jan-Feb 2024

[TapsC2]

That is very true. A kid will only take it seriously after the u19 World Cup and then they see there is something. The likes of Wes was different because they invested in them since they were maybe 13 or 14 so they saw what ZC could do for them.

I’m thinking the only way you change this is by paying competitive domestic wages. This is how SA for example gets kids invested early on. They can see a career out of it. It will cost a fortune. Ball park figure of 2k for example multiples by 100 players and you looking at 2.4 million a year for a basic contract. They could do it. Maybe around 4 million with more senior contracts. Then also have junior contract maybe from age 16. Franchise u19 players on maybe 500 but that’s probably what they pay the guys now for less months. Something has to change.

Talking to some guys who got scholarships for a different sport in SA. You would get your tuition paid, free Accomodation and allowances. That more than enough motivation for a kid. It’s like getting paid to go to uni by the sport you love.

What I do know is that these guys have the money to implement some of these things. Yes most other boards don’t pay for some of these things. The whole point of a franchise system was to give some of the provinces some financial independence but because of a failed economy. Nothing changed. We have to be smart about how we use our money. The national team focused approach isn’t working

[TapsC2]

https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/sport ... -expected/

If you look at this you will realize exactly where our ceiling is. CSA is running at a massive loss. They are in a much better company than ours too. Probably 100x bigger. I don’t see us getting much better without a better economic situation

[Googly]

Wouldn't it be nice if we had a publicised report like this from a CFO every quarter. Do we even have one?
Although their economy has been raped by the ANC they're still vastly better off than ours and obviously there's a strong link between the economy and sponsorship and interest in cricket and sport in general.

Annual domestic wages for the better players is so important, but they must link it to a contractual obligation to practice and stay fit. There has to be a HPC that has players coming through that can replace non performing players. There has to be big competition for the prized spots.
You don't need junior contracts, if youngsters can see there's a goal of a living wage they'll practice, believe me.

[Googly]

Sponsorship also becomes available if corporates believe in the administration. You can't completely blame the economy.

[Googly]

Actually in the early days the franchises were semi- autonomous and had to bid for players and run their own show. Mountaineers was run by Jon and Gary Brent and Rhinos by some KweKwe based guys that Kenyon Ziehl had something to do with. I think they were too efficent and therefore had to be stopped.
It would be a good system to resurrect if you could find people to trust with the cash because they would get to decide what they could afford to pay their players and which players they wanted. There would be a fight for the better players.
There has to be some motivation for everybody.

[Googly]

So from this U19 squad from what I can see there's about 4 guys with some potential, but none of them are remotely close to the national side unless one of our esteemed selectors chooses to mess it up again.
Those guys ideally need to do something good in club and NPL to get a look in for next season's franchise.
I don't know whether any would be considered for this u25 initiative? Maybe one or two?

[andrea lanzoni]

That is very true. A kid will only take it seriously after the u19 World Cup and then they see there is something. The likes of Wes was different because they invested in them since they were maybe 13 or 14 so they saw what ZC could do for them.

I’m thinking the only way you change this is by paying competitive domestic wages. This is how SA for example gets kids invested early on. They can see a career out of it. It will cost a fortune. Ball park figure of 2k for example multiples by 100 players and you looking at 2.4 million a year for a basic contract. They could do it. Maybe around 4 million with more senior contracts. Then also have junior contract maybe from age 16. Franchise u19 players on maybe 500 but that’s probably what they pay the guys now for less months. Something has to change.

Talking to some guys who got scholarships for a different sport in SA. You would get your tuition paid, free Accomodation and allowances. That more than enough motivation for a kid. It’s like getting paid to go to uni by the sport you love.

What I do know is that these guys have the money to implement some of these things. Yes most other boards don’t pay for some of these things. The whole point of a franchise system was to give some of the provinces some financial independence but because of a failed economy. Nothing changed. We have to be smart about how we use our money. The national team focused approach isn’t working

I can't but agree: I had repeatedly posted that in Zimbabwe it is mandatory to set up a pool of full time professionals. Maybe a small pool at first.
Ireland apart, all other test nations rely on professionals.
Having part time cricketers to deploy against other nations means using arch and arrow against tanks.
The outcome is always few wins amidst plenty of losses.

When I posted my point of view it seemed something weird. Now I feel glad that I'm not the only one.

[ZIMDOGGY]

That is very true. A kid will only take it seriously after the u19 World Cup and then they see there is something. The likes of Wes was different because they invested in them since they were maybe 13 or 14 so they saw what ZC could do for them.

I’m thinking the only way you change this is by paying competitive domestic wages. This is how SA for example gets kids invested early on. They can see a career out of it. It will cost a fortune. Ball park figure of 2k for example multiples by 100 players and you looking at 2.4 million a year for a basic contract. They could do it. Maybe around 4 million with more senior contracts. Then also have junior contract maybe from age 16. Franchise u19 players on maybe 500 but that’s probably what they pay the guys now for less months. Something has to change.

Talking to some guys who got scholarships for a different sport in SA. You would get your tuition paid, free Accomodation and allowances. That more than enough motivation for a kid. It’s like getting paid to go to uni by the sport you love.

What I do know is that these guys have the money to implement some of these things. Yes most other boards don’t pay for some of these things. The whole point of a franchise system was to give some of the provinces some financial independence but because of a failed economy. Nothing changed. We have to be smart about how we use our money. The national team focused approach isn’t working

I can't but agree: I had repeatedly posted that in Zimbabwe it is mandatory to set up a pool of full time professionals. Maybe a small pool at first.
Ireland apart, all other test nations rely on professionals.
Having part time cricketers to deploy against other nations means using arch and arrow against tanks.
The outcome is always few wins amidst plenty of losses.

When I posted my point of view it seemed something weird. Now I feel glad that I'm not the only one.

Yes but you’re leaving out that you wanted 100+ professionals. That was the crazy part.

40 or so- it’s worth the talking point.

[secretzimbo]

Where is the money for it (realistically) coming from?

Even with 40 players you are looking at maybe an extra $1m annually. Where are we finding that?

And I’m talking realistically here. E.g not reducing the salaries of the board and admin because that will never happen

We are out here also calling for more schools playing, more club cricket, more development programmes, more ‘A’ tours, a high performance centre/academy, more u13/u16 age group cricket and more everything as well.

It’s all important and it all needs funding from somewhere.

[ZIMDOGGY]

Where is the money for it (realistically) coming from?

Even with 40 players you are looking at maybe an extra $1m annually. Where are we finding that?

And I’m talking realistically here. E.g not reducing the salaries of the board and admin because that will never happen

We are out here also calling for more schools playing, more club cricket, more development programmes, more ‘A’ tours, a high performance centre/academy, more u13/u16 age group cricket and more everything as well.

It’s all important and it all needs funding from somewhere.

The obviosu answer is sponsorship but from what I’ve understood companies don’t want to touch what they see as corrupt admin.
Might have changed though.