South Africa government intervenes to resolve CSA crisis
Cricket http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 remains in shambles as Mtutuzeli Nyoka, the CSA President did not attend a meeting between the Board and the Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula late Sunday.
Sources say that Nyoka was invited to the meeting to discuss the conflicts arising for the power struggle that has been damaging the country’s cricket ahead of the ICC World Cup 2011. However, Nyoka decided to not attend the meeting after telling the minister’s
office that he will be “unable to attend.”
His decision to not attend the minister’s meeting is likely to affect the already trailing career of the President after the Body moved a motion of no confidence against him recently. It is reported that he was notified about a “special general meeting”
to be held in twenty-one days.
However, the Sports Minister told the media that the meeting was not about the conflict, but it was to discuss some important issues regarding the World Cup preparations.
“As much as there is an issue around the President...that does not mean that cricket is facing chaos. The house is not coming down,” Mbalula told a press conference.
Gerald Majola, the Chief Executive Officer of the CSA and Nyoka are seemingly involved in a cold war regarding the fight for control of the game in the country.
The matter was brewing for long as Nyoka insisted on probity in an investigation in 2010 over family travel costs and the unauthorised payment of 4.7 million rand ($641,000) after hosting the ICC Champions Trophy and the IPL 2009 event.
Mbalula also told a commercial radio station that the Proteas captain Graeme Smith should stay out of the politics and concentrate on cricket. Smith recently conceded that Majola has always backed the team and he will support him.
He said, “It is advisable that the players do not get involved.” However, he later clarified that he did not meant that Smith was apparently supporting Majola but he should not enter into a “public spat” that might hinder his focus.
Mbalula was quoted in a press conference as saying, “Government is concerned and shocked that during an important International Cricket Council (ICC) calendar event the sport of cricket in the country is thrown into disarray by personality issues.”
He added that the CSA’s eleven affiliates and Majola will be meeting with Nyoka on 12 February, 2011 to resolve the issues.
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