Proper strategy needed to revive the glory of cricket

By Sean Cardiovilis

2013 marks ten years since Kenya famously reached the semi-finals of the Cricket World Cup. I was in Durban that day as a journalist for Capital FM when Maurice Odumbe’s gallant soldiers lost to India by 91 runs. Unfortunately that was to be the beginning of a spectacular slide for Kenyan cricket.

The Kenya Cricket Association (KCA), first under Jimmy Rayani, followed by Sharad Ghai, was responsible for Kenya gaining One-Day-International Status  playing the top international sides, bringing World Cup matches to Kenya in 2003 (hosted by the Nairobi Gymkhana), and also hosting the ICC Champions Trophy in 2,000.

However, by 2005, a combination of deteriorating results and off-the field problems, including the banning of captain Maurice Odumbe from international cricket for match fixing, resulted in sponsorship drought and a change in administration.

Heavy defeats

In early 2006 KCA was disbanded and Cricket Kenya (CK) was formed. Cricket continued to decline, with heavy defeats against both established test nations and associate sides hammering the reputation of the sport locally and internationally.

Even reforms in 2011 when the so-called ‘old guard’, the heroes of the 2003 World Cup and before, were dumped in favour of new blood who were placed in central contracts did not help matters, as Kenya appeared to be sliding behind the associate member states – with even Uganda catching up rapidly under the guidance of former captain and Kenya cricket legend Steve Tikolo.

So what are the problems that besiege cricket in Kenya?  And in asking, in many sports as well? Sports associations in Kenya are generally characterised by narrow and short-term approaches to the sport. It’s no secret that morale in the national team at rock bottom.

Ugandans dominance

The East African Premier League was introduced as a 20/20 and 50 over format.

However this year’s tournaments have been characterised by the rise of Ugandan teams, with the shameful story of the Ugandans traveling 16 hours by road last week, staying at a One star ‘hotel’ (more like boarding and lodging), and proceeding to thrash the Kenyans in both semi-finals of the one-day format!

To re-build cricket in Kenya will require a three-pronged approach.

First, to encourage international teams to come play in Kenya to energise the local team but also reinvigorate the fans into cricket. Teams like South Africa’s Cape Cobras have indicated willingness to make a visit and play the Kenyan team.

Second, to invest in grassroots cricket and by grassroots we mean “mtaa cricket”. It should not be that only those in the vicinity of Simba Union and Gymkhana alone that should enjoy this great sport.

Third, to realising this can only be done by proper investing in the national team  from kits to fees to boost morale.

 In our consulting line we know there are many clients willing and able to make significant sponsorships, but frankly no one will spend a penny if they are unsure of the returns.

The sad reality is that many local cricket affiliates have failed to see the link between them and the rapid commercialisation and technology of sport worldwide.

In South Africa, sports tourism is a huge part of the economy — and that is the step officials in sports have to realise.

The dilapidated state of facilities around the country and the woeful junior programmes in various sports countrywide show a wholehearted need to overhaul sports administrations in this country.

On a positive note, the Safaricom Rugby Sevens Series comes to a thrilling end this weekend, with the Christie Sevens rounding off a highly competitive series at the Kenya Harlequin ground.

The on-form KCB need to just qualify for the semis of the Main Cup to win the series. The standard of the series on and off the pitch has been high and this bodes well for the forthcoming IRB Sevens series in which Kenya did so well last season.     

- The writer is a sports journalist and runs a consulting firm.