South Western Districts conclude 2018/20 season with successful AGM

SWD Cricket concluded the 2019/20 season on Saturday (1 August) when they held a successful virtual Annual General Meeting (AGM)

In the absence of the Chairman of the Board, Mr Rudy Claassen, the Board report was tabled by the Vice-President, Mr Shael Laminie.

In his report, Mr Laminie highlighted the impact of the  Covid-19 pandemic and the consequences thereof on South African cricket.   

“The reality is that it will have a massive impact on the game for which Cricket South Africa (CSA) together with its members has designed a Covid-19 and Future Cricket strategy,” he said.

CSA Members’ has also formulated a consolidated Covid-19 Risk Analysis covering risks like financial sustainability, the inability to complete the core mandate within the member region, people risk, player well-being and conditioning, insufficient facility maintenance and revenue projects.

SWDC, which forms part of a very challenging and competitive landscape as part of the South African Cricket fraternity and as one of the smaller members the union, often punches above their weight.

The 2019/20 season delivered the following notable achievements:

• Heath Richards and Jhedli van Briesies (selected for Cape Cobras Cubs team) and Jason Maswanganyi (Appointed as coach for the Cobras Franchise Cubs team)

• Miceala Andrews, Annerie Dercksen and Jané Winster for their selection to participate in CSA Women T20 Super League)

• Travis Ackermann and Keenen Vieira (Selected for the Cape Cobras Franchise Colts team) and Jason Maswanganyi (Appointed as coach for the Cobras Franchise Colts team),

• Brendon Louw (Played his 100^th First Class match for SWD)

• Neil Hornbuckle (Played his 50^th First Class match for SWD)

• André Olivier (Appointed as Umpire to officiate in the SA Cubs week, SA Rural Week, SA Cubs week, USSA week and Varsity Cup)

• Miceala Andrews (Selected for 2020 CSA Powerade Women Academy Intake)

• Tyrece Karelse (Selected for the SA U/19 team for the 2020 ICC U/19 CWC)

• Tsepo Ndwandwa (Selected to represent the WSB Cape Cobras and selected to represent the SA Invitation XI in a Triangular Domestic tournament in August 2019)

• Stefan Tait (Selected to represent a South Africa Invitational XI against England in a Two- Day match in Benoni – December 2019 and in two Limited over matches in Paarl in January 2020), Jean du Plessis (Selected to represent a South Africa Invitational XI against England in two Limited over matches in Paarl in January 2020) and Baakier Abrahams (Appointed as assistant coach for a South Africa Invitational XI against England in two Limited over matches in Paarl in January 2020)

• Ms Glenda Oliphant (Elected on the SA Schools Cricket Executive Committee)

On the financial front SWDC managed, despite tough financial challenges, to report a profit of R249,132 compared with a loss of R1,202,383 in 2018/19.  A major contributing factor was the fact that the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) approved a grant of R600,000 to SWDC. The Board, Financial Committee and Office Management exercised strict controls in terms of expenditure.

The Operational Incentive Scorecard results are a very important barometer whereby the union measure their performances.  By the time of submitting the report the overall results for 2019/20 were not yet released but SWDC again achieved 100% for the Governance anchor on the Incentive Score Card.

SWD Cricket will continue with the processes to establish its headquarters in George.  “Although a lot of hard work, time and energy has already being delivered the process was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and we are looking forward to conclude a favourable Lease Agreement with the Council of George and start with the project,” Mr. Laminie said.

SWD’s commitment and dedication towards the Transformation imperatives of CSA is evident in that SWD is one of only four affiliate members to meet the EPG Transformation benchmark of 60%. 

SWD achieved 67.40% on the EPG scorecard that focused on Data Quality, Member Barometer, Quality of Opportunity, Squad High Performance Assessments, Governance Assessment, Finances Assessment and Win Ratio. 

The core business is to produce quality cricket players for the system and the elevation of Glenton Stuurman (former SWD player who is making a statement at national level) and Tyrece Karelse who was selected for the SA U/19 team, is evidence of successful programs.

Stefan Tait, who spent two seasons with SWD, was rewarded with a contract at the Warriors and the senior provincial team coach for the past three seasons, Baakier Abrahams, will further his career as the assistant coach at the Warriors.

Mr Laminie was re-elected for his last term as vice-president and Mr Aubrey Mokoka as independent director (Chairman of Audit & Risk Committee) whilst Levesto le Roux and Donovan Claassen was elected for the vacant non-independent director’s positions.