Langa Cricket Club have publicly suggested the Western Province Cricket Association revise last week’s decision to cancel the 2020-21 club season.
Late last month, the WCPA completely cancelled the season after a couple of postponements amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
“We respect the recommendations from the WPCA club cricket committee and the decision that has been taken by the board,” read an extract from Langa Cricket Club’s recent statement.
“Yes, the virus has taken many of our loved ones in and out of the cricket community. While we do live in uncertain times due to the coronavirus pandemic, the drastic decision taken to cancel the season is somewhat uncomfortable to fathom. We, as Langa CC, do not believe such a decision will help our club or any of the community cricket clubs.
“We can’t be the mouthpiece of other communities in the Cape Flats, but being from disadvantage communities, the socio-economic problems faced by our youth are similar to almost every cricket club within the Cape Flats district and possibly the Western Province overall.
“With a season of no cricket, unlike the privileged schools and clubs, our players won’t just lose interest in cricket, but lose the intensity of the keen interest in the sport overall. Players will look for other unfavourable methods to fill the space left by cricket in their lives.”
“While Covid-19 may not kill them, not having the environment that let them escape through cricket will kill the morale and enthusiasm for the game.
“We have a young girls’ team that is losing faith in cricket as it stands. This decision will surely mean that some of them will lose interest and drop the sport. This is an aspect of the game that Langa CC has made it clear to WPCA that we want to focus on – the development of girls within cricket.
“Children will soon go to school. Tertiary students will soon go back to tertiary education. Many senior players that work have already returned to work. Almost all club members go to the supermarket stores, shops and spaces with people who might or might not have symptoms of the virus.
“You may have considered this, but all of these are examples of essential services and spaces. The truth is amateur sport is an essential part of humankind and skills development. The need to compete is a basic human need.
“It teaches humans to find ways to prevail in whatever circumstances they find themselves in. Cricket is that sport that, not only teaches mindfulness, but also dedication and strategic decision-making.
“We ask the club cricket committee and WPCA board to rethink their decision in this matter, but also find alternative ways to at least have a bit of cricket for this season. Give clubs the option to choose to participate in games or not. Another option is to give clubs a grace of two months to organise friendly matches among themselves.
“Having some sort of cricket for interested clubs is critical and we, as Langa CC, are one of those clubs that need games to keep going while observing all Covid-19 protocols. From our club’s perspective, it is unfortunate that this pandemic came at a time where we are finally sorting our house.
Internal problems at Langa Cricket Club
“The ‘no cricket’ policy for this season will surely not leave our club in a better position, as we are a club faced with challenges.
“These include no confidence from former stakeholders and members of the club – a group of people who consistently seek flaws within LCC, even in light of progressive strides being made by this current executive committee. Right now, we are faced with our chairperson being humiliated by this handful of people.
“We do not wish to be the committee that never had a chance to prove that all decisions we have taken in preparation for the season will not be visible on the field of play. Ultimately, cricket clubs or teams are about playing cricket.
“No matter the quality of the administration, for our club, the field of play counts as it is a reflection on the administration’s ability to create a holistic realisation of team spirit, club culture and motivated players.”