The turmoil of the CSA is well known, but I came across these two articles, and they just go to show that the the famous proverb of “When you pay peanuts, you get a monkeys”. In this case, I am sure, the CSA’s internal turmoil hasn’t helped them in their search for a high profile, long term sponsor. Should Investec not be sponsoring the Proteas? – you’d think so, but after a sponsor-less T20 and One Day series, a sponsor in the shape of a local vegetable oil company pops up.

IOL

London – England have signed a unique sponsorship agreement with Investec that will see the specialist bank and asset managing company backing Test cricket for the next 10 years.

“This is excellent news… and a further boost following the England team’s recent achievement in becoming the world’s number one ranked Test side,” England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive David Collier said in a statement.

“The extent of their investment reflects the fact our five-day game continues to command very significant audiences, both at home where we achieved record attendances for international cricket in 2011 and abroad.”

The sponsorship agreement will begin next year when England host Test series against West Indies and South Africa.

Investec becomes only the third firm to sponsor Test cricket in England, succeeding Npower and Cornhill.

The company recently ended its 12-year backing of England’s November rugby internationals. – Reuters

Two Oceans Vibe

It’s nothing short of remarkable that Sunfoil, the cooking oil sponsor of SA Cricket, forgot to buy sunfoil.co.za – right up until the second last test that we played. The domain name was quietly snapped up by local marketing company, Bletchley Park– who are now using it to promote one of their brands – the JAG Foundation.

The tie-up is quite lovely, as the JAG Foundation has to do with upliftment through sport.

Here is a letter sent to the Willowtown Group – Owners of the Sunfoil brand.

It makes you wonder, doesn’t it. The truth is, that until we get all our stables in order, this is going to become more and more common. A situation, where we drive away any potential ‘world playing’ South African businesses because of their reluctance to be associated with anything that could potentially harm their brand, and get left with ‘well wishing’, but innocuous brands that, although have all the right intentions, will unlikely be able to afford to continue their support for any sustained period. This in turn leads to a lack of continuity, and an amateur looking Cricket Union desperately trying to fund the company on a day by day basis.

How long, I wonder, will it be, before SAB starts sponsoring the All Blacks?