We Will Not Tolerate Any Mediocrity - CSA Chief

Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) new president Norman Arendse said on Saturday that the Board will not tolerate any “mediocrity” in the national team which will have to show “total pride, passion and professionalism” in their performance”.

“The Proteas certainly cannot win all their matches, but all structures, including the Proteas themselves, must do all in their power to put the Proteas in a position to win most of their matches wherever they play,” Arendse said in his first major public statement after being elected at CSA’s annual meeting in Johannesburg.

“We will not tolerate mediocrity, nor will we tolerate anything less than total pride, passion, and professionalism. We will provide the preparation; the players must provide the performance,” he said.

Arendse, who will occupy the position for the next three years, succeeds Ray Mali, who is currently the acting President of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

He said the Board would continue with its transformation policy until the team was truly national in its character and “South African cricket a truly national sport of winners.”

“It is important that we remain constantly aware that our sport is played in the context of a democratic South Africa and that we are a nation of diverse peoples and cultures.

“We must embrace our diversity and mould it into a unique strength that other cricketing-playing nations do not possess,” he added.

Meanwhile, CSA has reported a very healthy financial position, recording a total surplus of $20 million.

CSA treasurer Hentie van Wyk said the profit before tax was from revenues earned for the year ended April 30, 2007.