David Brooke, Brand and Sponsorship Manager of WP Cricket and Cape Cobras has highlighted the need to work hand-in-hand with other provinces and franchises in the country to survive the impact of COVID-19.

The COVID-19 outbreak has left many South Africans without jobs as companies are forced to retrench their employees. South African cricket has also taken a hit just like any other business in the country.

“Whilst from a playing point of view, our season was only curtailed by a few weeks, from a sponsorship point of view, the nationwide lockdown has had a major impact on the cricket sponsorship space,” said Brooke.

Most of the sponsorship deals are aligned to the cricket season and the financial year-end which in the case of cricket falls at the end of April each year. 

Although sponsors are in doubt, Brooke suggests that there’s a positive to be taken out of this period as it reflects the state of our cricketing system.

“Many sponsors are understandably displaying trepidation, which can be very unnerving for franchises and unions,” he explained.

“The sponsorship market has taken a massive knock in light of the Covid-19 pandemic but when adversity occurs, there’s always opportunity and I believe that comes in the form of the Women’s game in South African cricket.”

The South African Cricketers Association (SACA) have recently announced that the professional cricketers have also set aside an initial amount of R300 000 to provide relief for members (past and present) who have been hardest hit by the pandemic.

This will go some way to assisting some of the players in the women’s game who do not earn a salary from their respective Provinces.

“What this pandemic has exposed is our reliance on the Men’s game for the majority of revenue at Union and national level,” said Brooke.

“At Western Province we have a former Proteas Women player Claire Terblanche as our Coach, we have a dedicated Manager in Gabi-Lee van der Westhuizen, who has worked tirelessly over the years with little to no financial compensation.

“We have superstars such as Laura Wolvaardt who dominate on the world stage, Proteas Women players who have played in World Cups, international leagues and school girls who want to emulate the likes of Laura and Claire, but struggle to get to practice at 6pm because that’s when the Women’s team train because most work full time jobs or attend School or University,” he added.

The CSA commercial team has taken steps in the right direction as far as the Women’s game is concerned. Having Momentum on board as the Proteas Women’s team sponsor is a huge boost for the game.

Brooke also emphasized the importance of provinces and franchises coming together to work hand-in-hand during this difficult time. 

“I commend what our Commercial Department at CSA has managed to secure with Momentum as the Proteas Women’s team sponsor and I’m in constant communication with them,” he added.

“But I believe that the collective power of all the affiliates in the country will be the key catalyst to ensuring that the gap between amateur and professional cricket is bridged, which will ultimately ensure that our Proteas Women’s side will have more depth in quality players and increase their chances of world domination.

“We have this obsession with working for our own affiliates, our own franchises, but if there’s one thing that this period has taught us, it’s the fact that you have to be able to pivot your business model, package deals to offer sponsors better value in multiple cities.

“I’m looking forward to engaging with my colleagues around the country and I’m putting out a call to corporate South Africa to say that cricket, especially Women’s Cricket, is very much open for business,” he concluded.

Photo: John Tee