Share

Gibson 'disappointed' by lack of first-class crowds

Cape Town - New Proteas coach Ottis Gibson says he has been disappointed by the lack of supporters he has seen in attendance at Sunfoil Series matches this season.

For years now, South African cricket has been struggling to make the domestic first-class game an attractive product. 

The One Day Cup and T20 Challenge matches still enjoy decent support, but the four-day game seems to generate little to no interest from the country's cricket lovers. 

It may have been different in the late 1990s and early 2000s when the West Indian Gibson was plying his trade on the South African domestic scene, but it didn't take long for the new coach to realise that things have changed. 

"We want to start to really practice good habits ... time out in the middle can be better than having a few nets," Gibson said when asked about his Test players having featured in the first round of Sunfoil Series matches this season.

"The other thing is that if the Proteas are all playing first-class cricket in the Sunfoil Series, I would expect that more fans will be enthused by it and perhaps come out and watch.

"One of the disappointing things when I went to watch those games, especially at SuperSport Park, was that there was absolutely nobody in the ground at all.

"That’s disappointing, especially when you’ve got all the best players in the country playing."

The Sunfoil Series is currently in its fourth round of fixtures, with all nine matches so far this season having ended in draws. 

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
26% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1470 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2249 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE