Business principles must apply to sport federations

SPORTS REPORTERWINDHOEKCricket Namibia (CN), by implementing strong leadership, clear strategic vision and ethical business decisions, has shown that sports federations can deliver community programmes, perform on international level and manage to achieve a positive financial bottom line.The chief executive of CN, Johan Muller, says the clear leadership and strategic business decisions by the board appointed at the end of 2018 have steered CN in the recent year to financial and on-field success.From the horse's mouth“On the financial front CN showed both accounting and cash profits for the 2019 financial year while paying back N$4.5 million to creditors.“This is a significant achievement by any sports federation and is based on strategic decision-making and prioritising ethical business procedures. The board's decision to appoint a high-profile, experienced coach led the team to qualifying for the ICC Cricket World league II and their first-ever T20 World Cup,” Muller said. The president of CN, Rudi van Vuuren, added that they believe a strong, healthy organisational culture can make them thrive in the face of adversity.“The Covid-19 pandemic that brought the world to a standstill posed its own unique challenges to CN; however, the culture of excellence developed in the past 20 months within the organisation has kept it strong and healthy,” Van Vuuren said.He added that their cultural journey focused on establishing values within the organisation and then living those values towards stakeholders and measuring the outcomes of their efforts. Learn from us“CN is proud of how it has dealt with its finances, both in systematically settling debts and in attracting new sponsors due to financial prudence and creating value for sponsors. “We at CN further focus on trying to connect with our stakeholders, for example schools, media, clubs and the government, through good open communication,” Van Vuuren added. AchievementsVan Vuuren said the appointment of a national men's and women's coach, as well as the appointment of a qualified, experienced CEO, and the focus on growing employees and contracting top players while developing young and upcoming talent, have yielded measurable results such as qualification for the T20 World Cup and gaining One Day International status.In addition, the CN's asburton Mini-Cricket programme has been the leading developmental cricket programme under the 92 associate member countries for the last two years running.“Our coaches serve over 26 000 learners in community schools with regular cricket coaching during physical education periods.“This programme is operational in Gobabis, Keetmanshoop, Otjiwarongo, Okahandja, Khomasdal, Katutura, Khorixas, Ondangwa, Duinesig, Swakopmund, Kuisebmond and Grootfontein.“We are by no means perfect, but we are a learning organisation, seeking ways to continuously improve. We have several new initiatives for the remainder of the year, which provide ideal opportunities for corporate involvement,” Van Vuuren said.

Business principles must apply to sport federations

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-16

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Business principles must apply to sport federations

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-16

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