ZC awards fail to live up to expectations

[zimfan1]

ZC awards fail to live up to expectations

Senior Sports Reporter

THE Zimbabwe Cricket awards held at a Bulawayo hotel last Wednesday failed to live up to the hype created before the event and the ceremony was nothing to write home about.


For starters, the event was supposed to start at 6.30pm but only got underway at about 8pm. The large number of guests was only served their dinner as late as 10pm.
A number of things did not go well with the worst moment of the night coming when co-presenter Shingai Rhuhwaya called out national team Prosper Utseya’s name for the bowler of the year award and then sending him back after realising the error as the award went to Raymond Price.
Rhuhwaya, the ZC head of media refused to divulge whether there were any monetary incentives that came with the various awards dished out at the function.
“I cannot give that kind of information to you,” said Rhuhwaya to this newspaper after the function and again last Thursday morning.
Sunday Sport has it on good authority that the recipients of those awards did not get any cash to go with the accolades.
Rhuhwaya was quoted in our sister newspaper the Chronicle saying that US$45 000 was spent on the awards and if indeed that kind of money was put into the event, it boggles the mind why the prizes did not carry any cash incentives.
The awards recipients only got medals and trophies as their prizes. Croco Motors, the awards sponsors certainly did not get the mileage they deserved from the event.
Another question, which those who attended the event were asking, was why former Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak and his father Dennis were not invited to the function.
Dennis Streak’s name came up as one of the individuals to receive the International Cricket Council medal but he was not there to receive his medal despite the fact that he lives less than 100km from Bulawayo and would have been happy to attend had he been invited.
A reliable source said Heath Streak’s name was removed from the list of those who were supposed to be invited to the ceremony while a whole gang of former players and administrators were brought in from Harare for the function.
Another blemish for the ceremony was that there was no media award despite it being listed in the programme as one of the awards, which were supposed to be given out but nothing was said about that category.
Away from the controversy, Zimbabwe senior national cricket team captain Utseya was rewarded for his sterling performance for both the national team and his province Easterns during the 2008/2009 season when he walked away with the player of the year award at the awards.
Utseya, a down to earth character, picked up 10 wickets for Zimbabwe in One-Day Internationals and four wickets in the Twenty20 Internationals. On the domestic front Utseya was the leading wicket taker in the Logan Cup, the country's premier first class competition with 30 wickets as he led Easterns to the title. In the Faithwear one-day competition, Utseya took five wickets and got eight wickets for his province in the Metropolitan Bank Twnety20 held in Bulawayo in May.
Even though he was not the country’s leading wicket taker in ODIs, Utseya on a number of occasions bowled tight spells and during Zimbabwe’s visit to Bangladesh early this year he promoted himself to open the bowling, a sign of courage for an off spinner.
A panel of judges made of various stakeholders in the game met in Harare last month to deliberate on the awards and agreed that Utseya was the country's most outstanding player.
Left arm spinner Price, the country’s leading wicket taker in ODIs last season with 24 wickets took the top bowler’s award.
Top order batsman Hamilton Masakadza who was by far the country’s leading run scorer in ODIs with 613 runs walked away with the batsman's award. Masakadza was also outstanding with the bat in the Logan Cup where he finished as the third highest run scorer with 467 runs.
Wicketkeeper Foster Mutizwa who made his debut for Zimbabwe during their tour of Kenya early this year after Tatenda Taibu withdrew and impressed with the bat during that series walked away with the rookie of the year.
Zimbabwe A bowler Admire Manyumwa won the most promising cricketer award while Peter Moore from Harare took the schools’ cricketer of the year.
Stephen Mangongo who led Easterns to the Logan Cup and Faithwear title as well as Zimbabwe A to successful tours to Namibia and South Africa was voted the coach of the year.
Medium pace bowler Tawanda Mupariwa, got a special award for being the fastest Zimbabwean bowler to reach 50 ODIs wickets. Mupariwa got to the 50-wicket mark in 28 matches, nine matches fewer than Eddo Brandes who got 50 wickets in 37 matches.
Thandolwenkosi Mlilo, one of the most outstanding female cricketers in the country over the years won the female cricketer of the year accolade.
Mlilo was outstanding for her home province Westerns as she led them to victory in the provincial tournament held in Harare in April.
Fungai Shanganya, the curator responsible for maintaining cricket pitches in Bulawayo walked away with the groundsman of the year award and was also voted one of the most valuable employees.
Bulawayo based scorer Donald Nyoni took the honours in the scorer of the year with the country’s only international umpire Russell Tiffin winning the umpire of the year award.
Angeline Katsuwa walked away with the schools administrator award while ZC cricket affairs general manager Trevor Mutangadura took the manager of the year honour.
Last Wednesday’s event was the first time in three years that ZC have held any wards ceremony.

http://www.sundaynews.co.zw/inside.aspx ... 4163&cat=5

[zimfan1]

Just sums up the shambles that is ZC, if they keep treating Streak like that he will not come back into the coaching setup

Nice to see PJ Moor winning the best schools players, apprantly from what i have herd this guy is class and we need to keep hold of him

[Kopje]

Just sums up the shambles that is ZC, if they keep treating Streak like that he will not come back into the coaching setup

Nice to see PJ Moor winning the best schools players, apprantly from what i have herd this guy is class and we need to keep hold of him

Which school is PJ Moor from?

[zimfan1]

St Johns in Harare

[Detective RDS]

That clears that Raymond Price was the bowler of the year and Tawanda Mupariwa got a special award.

It's very disappointing on the matter of Streak. Indeed...I don't think he will comeback into coaching after this incident. Just a guess, I think any argument is going between Streak and ZC in any matter and for this reason they are angry with ZC, the result they didn't invite him.

[CrimsonAvenger]

Another question, which those who attended the event were asking, was why former Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak and his father Dennis were not invited to the function.
Dennis Streak’s name came up as one of the individuals to receive the International Cricket Council medal but he was not there to receive his medal despite the fact that he lives less than 100km from Bulawayo and would have been happy to attend had he been invited.
A reliable source said Heath Streak’s name was removed from the list of those who were supposed to be invited to the ceremony while a whole gang of former players and administrators were brought in from Harare for the function.

If true, it is the biggest insult to what can be regarded as the first family of Zimbabwean Cricket. Dennis Streak is the architect of many international careers of the '90s and early '00s.

[Kopje]

Another question, which those who attended the event were asking, was why former Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak and his father Dennis were not invited to the function.
Dennis Streak’s name came up as one of the individuals to receive the International Cricket Council medal but he was not there to receive his medal despite the fact that he lives less than 100km from Bulawayo and would have been happy to attend had he been invited.
A reliable source said Heath Streak’s name was removed from the list of those who were supposed to be invited to the ceremony while a whole gang of former players and administrators were brought in from Harare for the function.

If true, it is the biggest insult to what can be regarded as the first family of Zimbabwean Cricket. Dennis Streak is the architect of many international careers of the '90s and early '00s.

Agreed!

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

It will be an unnecessary conflict but i beg to differ from Crimson. I think Flower's is the first royal family of Zimbabwean cricket. Bill Flower has shaped the career of so many players and our "troubled" lad Taibu was nurtured when Bill first spotted him and sent to Andy Flower.

Ofcourse no one can undermine the contributions of Streak family.

[CrimsonAvenger]

He he, let us agree to disagree on this, shall we . In fact I was expecting this from you . Anyway, these two families have just given their heart and soul to Zimbabwean cricket.

Coming back to the controversy, I just suspect that this could be something personal between the Streaks and the Tuskers CEO Stan Staddon. Does anybody here know if there is any history of difference of opinion between them?

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

Well, i never wanted to start this and apologise for stretching things. The bottom line is no one on this planet can question the commitment of Flower & Streak family.

Hats off to their commitment.