The harsh reality

[aydee]

There is constant reference from all corners about Chingoka, AC, etc "lining their pockets". Let it be said that there isn't actually any proof of this...

The ONLY reason they are there is to line their pockets. There isnt anything else for them to do at ZC. They certainly are not there for the love of the game! There is 'no proof' because many at ZC are afraid to go on the record and stated these facts.

You may be right... It could be suggested though, that a broke, failing sporting body, with very modest future prospects would not be the ideal target for fraudsters... I would also argue that the likes of AC and Chingoka do love the game in Zim. Categorically. Admittedly this alone does not mean that they wouldn't misuse funds, but they do care. You can tell this from the frustration and pain in AC's voice when commentating on yet another Zim horror-show.

I maintain that I believe the size of the pot in the first place is the primary problem.

[foreignfield]

There is constant reference from all corners about Chingoka, AC, etc "lining their pockets". Let it be said that there isn't actually any proof of this...

The ONLY reason they are there is to line their pockets. There isnt anything else for them to do at ZC. They certainly are not there for the love of the game! There is 'no proof' because many at ZC are afraid to go on the record and stated these facts.

I think even if no-one is chanelling money into their own accounts (and I'm not saying that's not happening or hasn't happened) it has become quite clear that ZC is over-staffed, and that staff is not doing a good enough job.

"lining their pockets" may just mean that: sit on a handsome salary with little to show for it. I mean, honestly, what does Chingoka actually do?

It would be interesting to know how big ZC's staff really is, and to compare that with figures in the late nineties when there was much more international cricket to handle (but less domestic cricket).

[aydee]

It would be interesting to know how big ZC's staff really is, and to compare that with figures in the late nineties when there was much more international cricket to handle (but less domestic cricket).

And to compare it to other, better cricket boards around the world...

[bayhaus]

I think even if no-one is chanelling money into their own accounts (and I'm not saying that's not happening or hasn't happened) it has become quite clear that ZC is over-staffed, and that staff is not doing a good enough job.

"lining their pockets" may just mean that: sit on a handsome salary with little to show for it. I mean, honestly, what does Chingoka actually do?

Or give jobs to the boys who will not question any of the activities.

I would also argue that the likes of AC and Chingoka do love the game in Zim. Categorically.

Hi aydee, yes behind the mic AC may seem like it, I say its just a show based on comments from players and other peeps at ZC or in cricketing circles who speak with AC. 20 years at the helm is too much to be effective anymore for Chingoka. Not letting go and saying let others have a go at this shows that he does not have the game at heart but has some self invested interest.

[Googly]

Why would anyone give millions to ZC so that Chingoka and AC can line their pockets.

Nobody. Zimbabwe cricket is dead and buried. Not one single person with a single jot of credibility left at ZC. That's a bit of an over-statement, there's a couple of guys in the background but they would never be allowed to take control. You need someone in charge who is independantly wealthy and who has total control of the purse strings and who can't be intimidated or coerced and knows a bit about cricket. That leaves about 2 people to choose from. Sad.

[foreignfield]

Isn't the ICC paying a mount totalling $4.5m over a three-year period? Where has the money gone?

Funding absolutely all and any cricket related activity Zim is involved in. The entire franchise set up, for example. Grounds, players, admin, development. One and half million dollars a year really isn't very much when you consider just how far it has to stretch...

That amount is really not that much. My local second division football club has a higher budget for their first team per season alone, and they are the poorest club by far in the division.

But if money is tight it's even more important to streamline your management. How many people really work for ZC apart from the players?

Googly, you gave us some numbers, 80-150 in one thread, 200 in another. Do you have any more info on that? For example, how many of those guys sit in an office? Does that include everyone from the groundsmen up, coaches, players ...?

[Googly]

I don't know the latest figures to be honest. There has recently been a big reshuffle and quite a few people have been given their marching orders and a whole lot more are on involuntary half pay, hence the big discrepancy in figures. I do know that the coffers are now completely empty though and something has to give.
I can try and find out the latest though. It's not easy because no-one seems to know exactly, which is weird. ZC employs all the franchise players,their coaches, managers and support staff (not sure how many per team), last time I checked there was a bunch. Then there's the National team and all the support staff, then there's the staff at Head Office, again still waay overstaffed, includes HR, secretaries, PR, security, marketing, finances, admin, endless management, statisticians, then there's coaches and managers of all the age group teams, Then ZC pays for all the groundstaff I think. Here's a big expense because clubs used to mostly be self sufficient. Then there's all the umpires. Then it appears that they are supplementing the National League (and not managing). It really is a mess. The latest pay cuts and non payments have resulted in strikes and such.

Even holding age group trials is expensive. ZC allocate 5 grand for each age group for the trial week. Really have no idea how this money gets spent, doesn't add up. I know that in the u16's they've had two sets of trials (bizarre) and still have only narrowed it down to 24 players. It's stupid. It's hard to get info these days coz people still employed there are very cagey about information.

[Googly]

Then there's vehicles and fuel allowances for the hierarchy. Then there's rent. I know they didn't pay HSC for years and were asked to go to the back of the premises. That manager that successfully sued ZC for his money (100 grand) deserves a mention as well. He got a court order to collect a few vehicles because there was no money.
The list is long, ugly and depressing.

[Boundary]

Wow, what a picture. These are the game's custodians. No wonder the national team collapses so much during matches, those guys are self taught and have no idea what to do when it goes wrong. Thank you Googly, it is crucial that we get such insider information, even if you have to break laws and confidentiality agreements to do so. Whistle blowing is a noble cause.

[Googly]

I'm no whistle blower, Bud. Just really depressed that the game I love is in the hands of incompetent, corrupt, untouchable people. There's no way out of this mess. People also think there's a bunch of good players around and with proper management we can sort this out. That is simply not the case, we don't have the players anymore, especially front line batsmen, at any age group. There are less than 5 real quality batters left between the ages of 13 -19. I've watched a lot of schoolboy cricket. I said once before on this forum,it takes years to mould a top batter who can doggedly compile a big innings (and do it often). We've let everything slide too far.