C Bryden: New Transvaal Cricket General Manager appointed (10 Aug 1997)

10 August 1997

Ziggy Wadvala appointed Transvaal Cricket General Manager

by Colin Bryden

A NEW name for the Transvaal Cricket Board is likely to be the first significant change in Ziggy Wadvalla's tenure as general manager.

Wadvalla said a dynamic name was being sought, although he was quick to point out that the search had started before his appointment as Albie During's successor in the hot seat at the Wanderers was announced last week.

"It's been a project of the board for the last six or eight weeks," said the 43-year-old computer expert and businessman. "What we need is a new corporate identity which will capture the imagination of the modern generation without losing the respect of traditionalists."

Transvaal cricket has been slow to react since the old province of Transvaal became Gauteng. Rugby was faster off the mark in registering the name Gauteng Lions, which would have been ideal for cricket as the lion has been the emblem of Transvaal cricket for most of its 106-year history.

In Natal, cricket followed rugby's example of the Sharks by naming their champion provincial team the Dolphins, while Free State's adoption of the Eagles is as much to do with the province's sponsors as a product of imagination. In Australia, every state side now has an official nickname, ranging from the Queensland Bulls to the Tasmania Tigers. In an age of brand marketing, such labels make good sense.

Wadvalla said Transvaal's new identity would be unveiled before the start of the coming season.

To go with a new name, Wadvalla wants a winning team. "We have to get our act together," he said. "The Wanderers Stadium is one of the greatest facilities in world cricket and it is a marvellous challenge to make the best use of it. A winning team has to be our first objective because everything will flow from that. People, especially businessmen, want to be associated with winners."

Wadvalla, though, does not anticipate a major shake-up on the playing front. "Transvaal never really recovered from the Mean Machine era of the 1980s. Too many good young players went away because they didn't see an opportunity of getting into that side. But since the appointment of Ray Jennings as director of coaching we are seeing results. We have a young side and they are beginning to show their mettle."

Rather than casting about for world superstars to bolster the side, Wadvalla's strategy will be to give whole-hearted support to the existing players.

Although his appointment only takes effect on September 1, Wadvalla has been alternating between his nearby computer networking company and the Wanderers. He is proud of having built up a successful business over the past 10 years and it was a tough decision to make the switch. "Fortunately I have a good partner who will take over the running of the business," he said.

Although from Jahannesburg, Wadvalla completed his schooling at Parkhill high in Isipingo after his family moved. He played for Natal Schools before moving back to Johannesburg where he played for Transvaal under the South African Cricket Board banner. An opening batsman and occasional medium-pace bowler he said the highlight of his playing career was being a member of the first Transvaal team to beat mighty Western Province on their own Elsies River turf in 1989/90 shortly before cricket unity.

Although he served as an official before unity he had planned to give up in order to spend more time with wife Julie and young sons Faadil and Faraaz. "Then unity happened in 1991 and Dr Gulam Karim (then chairman of the Cricket Association of Transvaal) asked me to stay involved for just one more year..."

Wadvalla is the second former SACB official to be appointed to a top cricket post. He could seek no better role model than Natal chief executive Cassim Docrat, under whom the Dolphins won the Supersport Series and Standard Bank Cup last season.

Source: The Sunday Times