The IPL Championships were moved from India to South Africa in April, as the Indian elections in May were a threat to cricket players participating in the cricket tournament.
The cricket championship was billed as the saving grace to prevent South Africa from sliding into a recession, due to the vast sums of money it would generate for the economy.
Rugby hero Francois Pienaar was charged with the marketing of the event – did he not have a day-job at FNB in Cape Town? His marketing budget is said to have been R 150 million!
One wonders where the billions went to, as they do not appear to have benefited the small accommodation sector in Cape Town, if the guest houses in Camps Bay are anything to go by. The Cape Town matches were played late in April, and in the ten day period not one Camps Bay guest house had a booking from an IPL cricket supporter. Talk of the town was that the cricketers and their fans had received a special deal at the One&Only Cape Town in the V & A Waterfront.
During the time of the IPL championships, few Indians were visible in Cape Town. A busload were seen leaving the Vintage India restaurant in the Gardens’ Centre, and in April a smallish party was seen having lunch at Salt restaurant in the Ambassador Hotel.
The IPL ended off with a kitsch Miss Bollywood IPL South Africa competition, broadcast live on M-Net last Monday. Presenter Micheal Moll looked ill at ease and struggled over his words in hosting the show. Ex-Miss Universe Michelle McLean and Francois Pienaar were included on the judging panel.
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