The Sunday Independent

INJURY TIME

STUART HESS stuart.hess@inl.co.za

GET BETTER PRESIDENTS CSA

The main lesson to be taken from Cricket SA’s Annual General meeting yesterday, is that the quality of administrative leadership in South African cricket is really lacking at provincial level. From the bad jokes, to one president Daniel Govender of KwaZulu-Natal - not bothering to read financial statements sent to him before the meeting and then requesting those statements at the meeting, the AGM was a show of how poor the leadership at the grassroots level is in South African cricket. That desperately needs to change. While Cricket SA has taken a significant step in having more independent directors at national level, the provinces need to think harder and work more smartly to find better qualified people to be their presidents.

SIR CURTLY

What a joy its been to listen to Sir Curtly Ambrose on commentary during the first Test between SA and the West Indies. He tells it like it is, speaks with great passion and humour. In conversation with the excellent Fazeer Mohammed, he revealed an unsurprising part of his personality. “I’m not a patient man, believe me.” We do.

FINGER TALES

Quinton de Kock’s friends WhatsApp group must be something. De Kock explained the reason for his three-fingered celebration after making a century against the West Indies. It was for someone, in this WhatsApp Group who had his finger shot off in Afghanistan. "His finger being shot off is quite a highlight in our group of friends. So I said if I get to a milestone I'll do that just for him. I couldn't believe it happened the first time since I said I would, and I'm sure my phone is going to be buzzing with the boys' group." Quite some group. SAVAGE

Boris Johnson - who spends millions redecorating his house, can’t find a suit that fits - wished England and Scotland luck at Euro 2020 in the House of Commons on Wednesday, but failed to mention Wales. Robbie Savage took umbrage. Asked on the BBC what would constitute a successful tournament for Wales, Savage replied: “You know, if Boris Johnson’s watching tomorrow, Wales are in the tournament. If we can get through to the last 16, that will be good. Little old Wales again. I think Boris should realise that England got knocked out against Iceland in the last Euros, and Wales got to the semi-final. But hey.” Maybe Bozo’s already chucked the Welsh out of Britain.

MONEY MAN

Floyd Mayweather made at least $65-million for that ridiculous circus act Paul-whatsisname last week. And we get it here at Injury Times. We’re fuddy duddies, but we get it. We just don’t like it. People sell their virginity on social media, why shouldn’t Mayweather make that kind of money at the age of 44. But it’s not sport is it? It’s ‘reality TV,’ - except the Amazing Race is better. Hey like people used to pay money to watch entertainers with painted faces, a fake red nose and massive shoes ride around on a unicycle, while water balloons were thrown at their heads, so people will pay to watch this. But it ain’t sport.

‘VERY WELL’

While we’re all for free speech, some among us, really need to learn not to speak. Once more the French Tennis Federation president, Gilles Moretton stuck his foot in it, and defended the federation’s handling of the Naomi Osaka’s media boycott making the stunning claim that it was dealt with “very well”. The Japanese star shocked the tennis world when she withdrew from the year’s second Grand Slam, revealing she has been suffering from depression since her US Open victory in 2018. It was Moretton who also wished Osaka a swift “recovery” following her withdrawal, like depression is some kind of calf injury.

SPORT

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2021-06-13T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-06-13T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://thesundayindependent.pressreader.com/article/281831466678154

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