Booi plays it straight with his plans to bat for united front
With the cricket season firmly upon us, Border chief executive Thando Booi continues to lead both Border, as CEO, and the Warriors, as interim CEO after he stepped in for Dave Emslie who retired earlier this year.
Previously, the CEO of Eastern Province Cricket doubled as CEO of the Warriors, but with EP not having a CEO and Border being a shareholder, Booi had to step in.
It is expected that a permanent decision will be made on the CEO towards the end of the year and Booi is open to the possibility of taking up the mantle permanently.
However, he believes it is a matter for the boards of the Warriors, EP and Border to all agree on.
“The board will need to sit and decide on a permanent solution and they have a number of options they are looking at,” said Booi.
“What we are discussing at board level is that it is important that you don’t look at Border and EP as separate entities.
“We are both shareholders in the Warriors, so what happens at the Warriors level needs to filter down to the two entities and benefit them equally.
“The board has shown confidence in me so far in what we have been doing and what we have achieved.”
During his time as interim CEO of the Warriors, Booi has marketed Border and EP as equal entities.
Originally when he first joined the Warriors board, Booi admits he was tempted to push Border’s agenda but once the chance to be interim CEO came around it came at the right time as his mindset had changed and he saw it as an opportunity for cricket in the province to benefit as a whole.
“My mindset now is let’s promote cricket Eastern Cape and I make it clear whatever I do is for the benefit of EP and Border,” said Booi.
“Since the Warriors are based in Port Elizabeth there is a perception that the Warriors belong to EP but the Warriors belong to EP and Border equally and this association will benefit both regions in the long run.”
Both the Warriors and Border have enjoyed a good pre-season and the season kicked off for both at the Border cricket day at Buffalo Park last week.
Although the Warriors were not able to send a full strength squad Border put in an impressive performance in the T20.
With cricket is set to get into full swing in the city with both the Warriors and Border playing at Buffalo Park in October, the relationship between the three Eastern Cape cricket structures seems as strong as ever and bodes well for the future of Warriors, the province’s premier team.