Oct

CEO Series: An Interview with Laurie Peters, CEO Cricket Namibia

Laurie Peters one of the key driving forces beyond Namibia’s cricketing development and success. Now the CEO of Cricket Namibia he reveals his passions and his ambitions for Namibian cricket exclusively to Cover Point

Personal

Born: when and where? 24th February 1944 in Usakos, Namibia

Occupation: Retired Concrete Engineer. Now CEO Cricket Namibia

Family: Wife, Rayner. One Son – Fraser

Does your son play cricket? No – my son has a disability of being partially sighted.

Where do you live? Windhoek, capital of Namibia.

What do you do to relax? Keeping fit running at least 50km’s and cycling 50km’s per week. Read extensively and am very interested

in the nature of my country.

Favourite other sports? Road running and rugby

Which person in the world do you most admire and why? Nelson Mandela – for his dignity and humility.

Favourite holiday destination? I love to spend time in the Namibia outdoors.

What are you passionate about? I hate to see the abusing and suffering of children. Sport can change all this. Governments have the opportunity through sport to change this.They, the politicians must make more funding available and we can assist them.

Cricket

Namibia is facing an exciting few months with the climax of the IC Cup and the WCQs in ’09. What would it mean for Namibia to win the IC Cup? That the team we have been building and investing in over the last 3 years have at last achieved and played to their true potential and capabilities. I believe that this Namibia team and Cricket Namibia have not received the true recognition it deserves by the Namibia Sports Commission and others.

And to qualify for the 2011 World Cup? We are taking this one step at a time. To qualify for the 2011 CWC will take an additional effort and hard work. To qualify would mean that we have taken giant strides in both forms of cricket in Namibia would lift the profile of cricket and sport in general in our country.

What in your view should be the medium and long-term aspirations or vision for Namibian cricket? That we sustain cricket in Namibia to such an extent that we can become fully professional by 2011.

What are the medium to long-term goals for Namibian cricket (stated goals)? Cricket in Namibia has many goals still to achieve. Our development program reaches out to all Namibians and particularly to those that have not had the opportunity to play the sport. In short, Namibia is a soccer mad country that, with respect, has not achieved the status that cricket enjoys. Therefore we require to alter perceptions and have more indigenous citizens of our country introduced to cricket. The opportunities are there but it will take hard work and plenty of finances.

What are the strengths of Namibian cricket? Cricket Namibia is led by dedicated Executive Committee and a National Cricket team who are passionate about success. Coupled with this they play the game in the true that cricket should be played.Namibia children appear to be blessed with inherent ball skills that make them naturals to adapt to cricket.

What needs to be improved in Namibian cricket? We require more facilities, higher standard of coaching as well as always finances to raise our levels of skills.

What are the strengths of the current national side? For amateurs, we as the administrators of the game in Namibia are fortunate as we have a national squad who as amateurs are totally dedicated, focused, love cricket and play the game with passion and in the true spirit that it should be played.

What needs to be improved with the current national side? That we as Cricket Namibia have to reward our and players with better opportunities to be able to make their success and goals easier to achieve.

Most European Associates financially live from hand to mouth with very little money. Is it the same in Namibia? Even more so in Namibia. Compared to Europe Namibia is a 3rd World Country and is not easy for players Administrators as well as the coaches have to scrape the bottom of the barrel. There are players who if they do have jobs earn very little.

Is domestic cricket strong in Namibia? How many Clubs? How many people playing the game? How can this be increased? Namibia has 600 players who play Premier and 1st league cricket. My opinion is that we have 3 strong clubs in our domestic league. Further, clubs are so far apart and have to travel distances of 1,000 to 1,500 km’s per weekend for a league match. These are logistic problems that have to be overcome. The success of the national cricket team will determine the popularity of cricket as a sport in Namibia. Already we have more and more players coming into the game and this is a future challenge for Cricket Namibia has to face.

Is cricket played by coloured people in Namibia? If not, how can this be addressed? Yes, more and more coloured people have come into the game. However, we require more “Black” players to lift the profile. Our Development Program is proving this and we have to lift the skills levels of these young players and bring them into our national teams. One has to understand the profile and problems we face in this challenge and we are prepared for this and addressing it at present.

Are any of the Namibian cricketers professionals? No. Cricket Namibia just does not have the finances to be able to support this. Hopefully with more ICC financing coming into the game this must be our goal over the next 2 years.

What is the future for Associate cricket generally? There are huge opportunities for the top 6-8 associates. These countries’ administrators are ambitious and passionate about developing their cricket. ICC must allow and consider the top Associates such as Ireland and the others to develop. These countries are definitely challenging to certain full members and they must be allowed to play them. This will increase not only increase the profile of cricket worldwide but grow the game. In essence we are “chomping at the bit” and are ready given the opportunity to take on this challenge.

What has been the highlight of your career in cricket to date? Since Independence of Namibia in 1990 cricket in Namibia has been almost like a Cinderella story. Namibia has played in a Cricket World Cup (CWC) as well as our under 19 Team, 4 in fact. Our youth teams have won almost every under age tournament in Africa. This is truly rewarding.

And the biggest disappointment? Not qualifying for the last CWC (2007) in the West Indies.

What are your remaining ambitions? To put the cherry on the top – professionalize cricket in Namibia and then qualify for the 20011 CWC.

What do you know about the current Irish team? They are a seriously good and professional outfit and for Namibia to beat them will take a tremendous effort.

Do you fear any of them? I am sure that under coach Johan Rudolph will be well prepared - so bring them on.

Do you have a favourite Associate cricketer (outside of Namibia) If yes, who is it and why? I love all the players who represent the Associate countries. They play with such great sportsmanship and are just a great bunch of people.

Do you have a favourite Test cricketer? If yes, who is it and why? Sachin Tendulkar. He is everything that I like to see in a cricketer. True professional and plays the game in the spirit it should be played.

Finally, if you were able to change one thing about Namibian cricket, what would it be, (apart from increased finance)? There are many things. However, as our country is basically such a poor country and there are many people who suffer from poverty I would like to see that we have the means to give them opportunity to play cricket in Namibia. Cricket provides such wonderful opportunities in life for people to raise and lift themselves to another level.