Few regrets for Zafer
Outgoing Eastern Goldfields Cricket Association chairman Andrew Zafer vacates the role confident the game was in good long-term shape.
Zafer, who is also North Kalgoorlie's president, formally stepped down at Saturday night's O'Shaughnessy Medal count after four years in the top job.
With Zafer at the helm, it has been a successful era for the EGCA, which has developed strong relationships with the City Of Kalgoorlie-Boulder regarding the care and maintenance of turf wickets.
But he conceded it had not all been plain sailing.
"As a commission, we've also tried to listen to what our stakeholders want, and the players and coaches make up a big part of that," Zafer said. "It led us to stray from tradition and do away with a two-day grand final.
"Not everyone was happy with that, but we listened to everyone involved who wanted to play the same format of cricket from the first ball of the season to the last ball."
Zafer said the EGCA's success at representative level was a sign local players were more committed to testing their wares outside the region.
"I think there is good depth among each of the clubs, which is reflected in that our representative performances have been strong for a number of years," he said.
"Unfortunately, we haven't won the senior country week title, but we've had good success in the Country Cup and a lot of guys now are really willing to represent the EGCA at those tournaments."
The EGCA's struggles to break an 11-year Boan Cup drought at senior country week was Zafer's biggest disappointment.
"We've gone close in each of the past two seasons and it is really hard to qualify for a final," he said.
"Being runners-up two years in a row has been a bitter pill to swallow, but you can't win everything.
"It just would have been nice to bring the Boan Cup back to the Goldfields and, unfortunately, we've just pulled up short."
Zafer was unable to give any indication of who was likely to succeed him as chairman ahead of the annual general meeting in August.
