Sports
Sascoc Has To Be Better For South Africa Athletes To Perform
What is the point of Sascoc? If that organisation didn’t exist, would anyone miss it? South African athletes perform, well or not, in spite of and not because of Sascoc.
It’s been that way for a while. Current Minister for Sport (and Arts and Culture) Nathi Mthethwa, for all his many faults – just ask anyone in the arts industry what they think of Mthethwa – has tried really hard to give Sascoc an authoritative role in SA sport, and Sascoc has failed dismally.
“Failed dismally” were the very words used by Mthethwa earlier this year to describe Sascoc’s attempts at intervening in the problems that beset Cricket SA’s administration in the last few years. Sascoc president Barry Hendricks has occasionally earned the ire of Mthethwa.
In a radio interview in April, as the crisis at CSA deepened, Mthethwa described Sascoc and Hendricks’ antics at the Special General Meeting in the following way: “The problem with sport is that you have individuals whose parochial interests supersede the national interest.
Sascoc was presented as a paragon of correctness and uprightness (at the special meeting) which they are not. If they were, they would have dealt with this matter, now they want to come through the backdoor.”
And now we have this issue over the bonuses for medallists at the Olympics. That controversy has, for now, clouded the fact that there were just two medallists for Team SA in Tokyo. There are plenty of mitigating factors – the most obvious one being the Covid-19 pandemic – but it’s not a good return for Team SA and does not reflect very well on Sascoc.
The organisation will have to account for that, according to Mthethwa’s department, which on Tuesday, in a long winded statement about the bonuses, also said that Sascoc would have to explain the overall performance of the Olympic team as it is “Sascoc’s task to coordinate the team, including the selection process”.
Mthethwa was also unhappy about the racial composition of the team that represented SA in Tokyo, although there is a whole lot his own ministry will have to account for on that front.
Hendricks’ comment that he and Sascoc did not want to get into discussions about bonuses before the Games because “we wanted the athletes to concentrate on their performances without distraction” is simply ridiculous. The previous three summer Olympics and Paralympics all saw Sascoc make a real song and dance about bonuses for medallists, which certainly didn’t cause a distraction for the nine athletes who won six medals in London, nor the nine athletes and Blitzboks who won 10 medals in Rio – South Africa’s best medal haul since the country’s return to the Olympics in 1992. The bonuses were hardly a “distraction”.
The only thing that appears to be a distraction for athletes and SA sport in general is Sascoc’s inability to properly oversee sport in SA.
It’s been through a change of leadership, which was enforced following a commission of inquiry.
What it needs is better leadership that won’t go looking for excuses, or saying things like athletes will be distracted by talk of bonuses.
Surely we have better sports administrators who can make Sascoc into an entity that benefits and prioritises athletes.
After four previous final failures, the South Africa ended several years of heartbreak by defeating host nation Morocco 2-1 to win the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations for the first time.
Hilda Magaia scored two quick goals midway through the second half to finally guide South Africa over the line, making her Banyana Banyana’s hero.
Although Rosella Ayane pulled a goal back for the Atlas Lionesses ten minutes from time, it was too little too late for a team making its first appearance in the final.
South Africa had lost their four previous finals: in 2000, 2008, 2012 and 2018.
“It was a humbling experience, and an emotional one, when you look at the journey that we have travelled as Banyana Banyana,” captain Refiloe Jane told BBC Sport Africa.
“To finally get to this point meant a lot for everyone. When the final whistle went out, I was crying. It was the most humbling and emotional experience.
“I don’t think I’ve ever cried so much after a football match – that goes to show our journey, everything that we had to go through and things have finally come together.”
For Banyana Banyana coach Desire Ellis, this was a hugely-satisfying win after first trying – and failing – as a player to win the trophy when losing the final 22 years ago.
Out of the camera directly to your eyes. 🤩
Step on the pitch with #TeamSouthAfrica the moment the full-time whistle announced them African champions! #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2022 | #EmpoweringOurGame | @Banyana_Banyana pic.twitter.com/d5GyKakg6B
— #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2022 (@CAFwomen) July 24, 2022
After Ellis oversaw another final defeat, against Nigeria, four years ago from the touchline, her charges entered this tournament with a so-called ‘mentality coach’ in a bid to improve positivity.
“It feels amazing,” she told the BBC. “I’m an African champion now – and no one can take that away from us.”
South Africa needed real composure throughout the game to silence a raucous home crowd that had filled the 53,000-seater stadium at least two hours before kick-off, and which lit up the Rabat sky with dozens of red and white flares during the game.
Mamelodi Sundowns have reportedly landed the signature of Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen William on a five year deal, following week’s of speculation and negotiations.
According to the SABC, the 30 year old shot-stopper will leave SuperSport United after spending 18 years at the Pretoria based club.
Williams has reportedly been looking to leave the Matsatsantsa as he looks to challenge for trophies, and it appears he has found his new home at current DStv Premiership champions Sundowns.
“Indications are that the deal has been concluded, with Williams signing a long-term contract, while his former club have successfully negotiated the transfer of another goalkeeper in Ricardo Goss as well as young striker Thabang Sibanyoni to join coach Gavin Hunt’s side for the upcoming season,” SABC Sport reported on Wednesday.
According to the report, SuperSport Uniter were initially not willing to let their star goalkeeper go if they did not get Goss on a permanent deal, but they’ve now had to settle on a two-year loan, with striker Sibanyoni also thrown in.
The 28 year old Goss has found game time hard to come since making his move to Sundowns, but will now be reunited with Gavin Hunt, a man he previously worked with at Wits.
Sundowns are currently in KwaZulu-Natal on a pre-season camp, and will take part in this year’s edition of the Prince Mangosuthu Legacy Cup this weekend.
Sekhukhune United has announced the signing of Royal AM forward, Victor Letsoalo on a three year contract deal, according to reports.
Letsoalo was tipped to potentially join Kaizer Chief or Orlando Pirates, however, he signed for Sekhukhune United which comes a shock as reported by FARPost.
The 29-year-old Bafana Bafana forward ended the season finishing second on the goal-king chart behind top-scorer Peter Shalulile who found the back of the net 23 times. He scored 15 goals in the South African top-flight.
Letsoalo’s top performance in the past season for Royal AM side saw the newly promoted side who made their debut campaign in the South African top-flight league finishing 3rd, earning qualification to the CAF Confederation Cup.
It remains to be seen how Royal AM will cope with not only the departure of Letsoalo but also of former coach John Maduka who has since moved across Kwa-Zulu Natal to take charge of Maritzburg United.
Relegated Jomo Cosmos have been handed a lifeline and could play GladAfrica Championship football next season following discoveries of Hungry Lions fielding an ineligible player in 10 of their 30 games.
Jomo Cosmos submitted a formal complaint through their legal representatives with regards to the ‘illegal’ fielding of a player who is still on their books.
“It has recently come to our attention, Mr Tshepo Mohlala(the player) has been playing for Hungry Lions Football Club during the 2021/2022 football season, despite being a player of our client,” read the charge sheet of the Premier Soccer League.
“The player has never been cleared nor released by Jomo Cosmos Football Club and hence any games played for Hungry Lions Football Club constitute a breach of NSL handbook rules 30,31 and 32.”
Tshepo Mohlala, who was a part of the Ezenkosi amateurs set up in the 2015/2016 featured in matches that Hungry Lions managed to collect 15 points, he could be the reason the Northern Cape side are docked of these points which would subsequently relegate them and ensure Jomo Cosmos another season in the second tier of South African football.
Cosmo concluded their GladAfrica Championship campaign in 15th position after accumulating 28 points in their 30 matches.
Lions, who currently sit 11th on the log with 36 points could end up on 24 points if they are found guilty on the charges placed on them and that would mean they finish bottom of the log and Cosmos jump out to safety.
Lions and Mohlala are set to appear before the PSL DC on the 27th of June and will know their fate thereafter.
Former Bafana Bafana star Mark Fish has said that he is supporting Ria Ledwaba in the race for the SAFA presidency against Danny Jordaan.
Ledwaba is currently challenging for the SAFA presidency but is viewed as an outsider against competitor Danny Jordaan.
At the moment, I’m supporting Ria (Ledwaba). It’s not because we are ex-footballers. We are football fans as well. We need change. SAFA has done good things but we need change if we are to move forward. I think if we don’t see change now, it will be difficult to see improvement in grassroots football,” said Fish.
Fish insisted that change is now necessary if Bafana Bafana is to embark on a revival after nearly two decades of mediocrity on the field of play.
“We are giving support to an individual who has spoken to us as ex-players and said that she can bring change. We need change to move on. We need to get back to being number one in the continent and back to being among the top 20 or 25 in the World,” said Fish.
The former Charlton Athletic defender insisted that while he is supporting Ledwaba, he has no personal issues with Jordaan.
“Danny has never done anything wrong to me. I have a picture of Danny, myself and Benni McCarthy at the 1998 World Cup. I also have a picture of myself and Danny in Congo. He is passionate about the game.
Nothing has changed but I feel that we need a change of leadership. Ria has put up her hand and we are behind it because we feel that there should be change,” said Fish.
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