/ 20 January 2011

Nyoka accuses Majola of lying

Nyoka Accuses Majola Of Lying

Cricket South Africa (CSA) CEO Gerald Majola will respond to allegations made by embattled CSA president Mtutuzeli Nyoka after meeting legal advisers and the organisation’s board, according a representative of the federation.

“Mr Majola has advised me that he is seeking legal and board advice,” CSA spokesperson Kass Naidoo said on Thursday afternoon.

“We will try and send out a statement from Mr Majola later today.”

Nyoka accused Majola on Thursday morning of lying to him about staff bonuses, according to posts on Talk Radio 702 breakfast host John Robbie’s Twitter profile.

“Dr Nyoka said Gerald Majola lied to him over the issue of Indian Premier League (IPL) bonuses paid to Cricket SA officials,” Robbie wrote on the social networking site after he interviewed Nyoka on Thursday morning.

Nyoka was speaking after reportedly being asked to step down from his post.

‘Not Stalin’s Russia’
He and Majola clashed last year following reports that the CEO and dozens of other CSA employees received bonuses for successfully hosting the ICC Champions Trophy and the IPL Champions League in 2009.

Majola was cleared of any wrong-doing in an internal investigation.

Robbie tweeted: “Dr Nyoka says he was lied to over the payment of IPL bonuses to Cricket SA officials. Was told none were paid.

“Dr Nyoka says Cricket SA will never be able to bury the truth.” Nyoka also said, according to Robbie’s posts: “Cricket is not a secret society … not Stalin’s Russia.”

Also in the interview, Nyoka apologised to Gauteng Cricket Board (GCB) chairperson Barry Skjoldhammer.

Robbie said Nyoka made an “unconditional apology over the way he treated Gauteng Cricket, Barry Skjoldhammer … and the Wanderers”.

Discussions
In 2009, Nyoka said no international cricket matches would be played at the Wanderers until the GCB had apologised for allegations made against Majola that he mismanaged the IPL event.

Skjoldhammer was eventually forced out of his position during a heated falling out between the national body and the Gauteng franchise.

CSA and the GCB made up, however, when the provincial body agreed to transform its board to include more members from previously disadvantaged clubs.

Nyoka said he himself had not been fired or resigned, but that he had received a letter calling him to a meeting to discuss his position. — Sapa