Sonn opposes White in UCB election battle (20 July 1999)

20 July 1999

Sonn opposes White in UCB election battle

Trevor Chesterfield

Johannesburg (South Africa) - In what is seen as the shape of things to come and a strong move to cementing the moves of transformation started more than a year ago nominations for this year's annual United Cricket Board meeting shows the first major demographic shift since unity in eight years ago.

Although the scrap for the presidency between incumbent Ray White and Percy Sonn has been well noted, other positions have two or more nominations. Yet despite the Western Province shift to `push for political parity and Representation' the election is no longer seen as being one along colour lines but attempting the shake up the system and bring it into line with the UCB's new constitution. This in itself has been designed to `fast track' administrators into the national system.

`While it may seem that way it is not a take over to shut out one group or another but compliment the system,' said a UCB insider this week. He pointed out that the list of those nominated showed how much their input, since unity, had been valued and respected.

As it is the new UCB constitution has broadened the base and the board's provincial electorate was following this trend to give others a chance to voice opinions.

With three blacks designated to sit on the UCB's general council the transformation process takes another step forward. Although they are well known within in their own provincial circles names such as Free State vice-president Tim Khumalo and Ray Mali, vice-president of the monitoring committee of the UCB's transformation process, have played major roles in the spread of the game above the general affirmative action level.

Solomon Makhosana is also on the UCB's executive as well as the Western Province board as is Douglas Maku who has strong roots in the Border area. There are six nominations for the three places and it could be an interesting meeting, especially as Dr Mtutuzeil Nyoka, of Soweto, who has a strong cricket background and linked to a position on the Gauteng board, as allowed his name to go forward.

Northerns president, Richard Harrison is one of three names put up for the vice-presidency. Others are Robbie Muzzell, of Border, and Sonn, who is leaving himself a gap incase he fails to beat White for the presidency.

The post of treasurer, held since the first unity meeting by Natal's Julian Thornton, is also being contested by Free State's John Blair and Western Province's Haroun Lorgat.

One interesting side bar out of the general transformation trend is the absence of Kepler Wessels' name from the list of selectors from the senior panel. There is a thought that he would rather be involved in a system where merit selection was preferred to one of 'merit selection with bias'.

Although Rushdie Majiet's name is being put forward by Western Province as convener of the panel, the UCB's elected council will vote on the six after which the convener will be named.

President: Raymond White and Percy Sonn.
Vice-president: Percy Sonn, Richrad Harrison, Robbie Muzzell.
Treasurer: Julian Thronton, John Blair, Haroun Lorgat.
Affiliates to sit on council: Henry Paulse (Bol), Robbie Muzzell and Geoff Long (Bord), Cassim Suliman (East), Flip Potgieter (EP), Cahrlie Robinson (Free State), Barry Skjoldhammer (Gauteng), Mike Doherty (Griquas), Robbie Kurz (Kw/Nat), Richard Harrison and Brandon Foot (North), Micky Gordon (NW), Percy Sonn and Arnold Bloch (WP).

The black Africans to sit on council: Gerald Majola, Solomon Makhosana, Ray Mali, Tim Khumalo, Dr Mtutuzeli Nyoka, Douglas Maku.

National selection: Clive Rice, Gerald Majola, Rushdi Magiet, Mike Procter, Morris Garda, SK Reddy, David van der Knaap, Solomon Pango.

Under-19 selection: Solly Chotia, Douglas Sibali,Corrie van Zyl, Hugh Page, Dr Logan Naidoo, Ebrahim Damon, Anton Ferreira, Shane Gouldie, Dave Nosworthy.

Source :: Trevor Chesterfield