Farewell to SWD Cricket president

CRICKET NEWS - The cricket fraternity of the Garden Route Badgers bid farewell to its long-serving president, Rudy Claassen, at its annual awards ceremony on Saturday evening.

He served the organisation with distinction since September 2004 and will vacate the chair at the Annual General Meeting of the company on 29 July.

He joined the office as president of the SWD Cricket Board in the 2004/05 season, after associated status was awarded to five new provinces (including South Western Districts) as part of the restructuring process of South African cricket.

During the initial years of his term the growth of SWD from its infancy as a rural Sub-Union of Boland in 2001 to its position of an exemplary associate member embodies the energy, as well as the vision, of the young but involved collective leadership that permeates the cricket community and the business community at large.

On 2 February 2013, at the AGM of CSA, the board directors approved SWD's application as the twelfth full affiliate member of CSA.

Player development was a vital focus area and in 2010 SWD Cricket presented the first academy intake in the history of the province. The aim of this academy is to focus on the improvement of life and cricket skills of elite cricket players in the province. The elevation of players, Otneill Baartman and Glenton Stuurman, part of the academy, to national ranks is evident of the talent and talent development in the province.

Another milestone was in April 2011 when the sod-turning ceremony for the construction of a new office complex was held at the Recreation Ground in Oudtshoorn.

This project was made possible via funding from the National Lotteries Board.

The SA Sports Trust also provided financial support for this project.

SWD Cricket was rewarded upon completion of the 2014/15 season for its operational structures and programs during the 2014/15 season. The affiliate ended third overall on the CSA Incentive Operational Score, in the 2015/16 season second on the score card and in 2019/20 fourth.

The introduction of the Black African Cricket development programme in 2008, under Claassen's leadership, was a commitment to develop potential at all levels of the game.

He was also part of a historic process as part of the transition of South Western Districts Cricket as a non-profit company (NPC). Other notable achievements included an award for Western Cape Sport Council: Federation of the Year (2015) and the Eden Sport Council: Federation of the Year (2006, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016).

Over the years numerous players have received awards in various categories at the CSA Annual Awards functions.

In 2019 the members' council approved a concept to investigate the movement of the headquarters to George.

The impact of Covid wasted a lot of time in this aspiration. In Match this year the town council of George gave the green light and SWD hopes to host warm-up matches in George for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup.

In his closing presidential address Claassen thanked all the role players for their undevoted support during his term in office. "It was really an honour and privilege to be of service to cricket in the province and the contributions of all involved was vital in our achievements."

SWD Cricket CEO Albertus Kennedy, who worked with Claassen during his entire tenure, described him as a leader who was never bigger than the organisation.

"Whatever he did and whenever he had to represent SWD Cricket, the interest of SWD Cricket was always his number one priority," Kennedy said.

Rudy Claassen