Stofile stuck in past
26 Jul 2007
Keo, in his Independent Newspaper column, asks why Minister of Sport Makhenkesi Stofile is willing to accept the Proteas as representative of a new South Africa, but not the Springboks?
Stofile remains adamant the Springbok World Cup squad does not represent South Africa as a new country.
He said it was proof South African rugby was stuck in the past.
Springbok coach Jake White included one ethnic black African and five coloured players in his World Cup squad of 30 – a number government officials said was not enough.
Rewind a few months to the cricket World Cup. The Proteas receive the following message: “Go out there and represent South Africa with dignity. We believe in you and we will be behind you as you stand toe-to-toe with Australia next week.” Yes, the same Stofile sent this message to a cricket side that did not contain one ethnic black player in the starting XI.
Staying with cricket, government officials and cricket administrators lauded the squad composition ahead of the World Cup. Seven players of colour in 15 was viewed as a dramatic breakthrough for transformation, but only one of those seven players was black African – Makhaya Ntini.
The window-dressing exercise at the cricket World Cup was completed when Roger Telemachus did not play a game, Loots Bosman played in one and the first choice slow bowler Robin Peterson bowled less overs than part-time spinner and captain Graeme Smith.
Prior to the tournament Smith told the media he believed in every player’s ability, but he obviously didn’t, otherwise Peterson would have bowled more. Telemachus did not bowl a ball in the West Indies, Peterson bowled just 72 and Bosman, picked as a batsman, never batted. Cricket’s transformation of the squad was a lie, which the government was willing to embrace.
Transformation in South African rugby since unification in 1991 has been a farce. We all know that, but it does not start with the selection of the national squad. A coach can only choose from the players available and in this light the squad is very representative of South African rugby’s player demographics.
This past weekend only seven ethnic black Africans started in eight premier division Currie Cup sides. Only five of these players are eligible to play for the Boks. When it comes to black African selection White is effectively picking from a pool of less than 10 and not 40 million who make up South Africa’s population.
The government should be condemning South African rugby’s failure to transform and should be demanding change at a domestic level. Instead all the criticism is irrationally levelled at the national squad. Cricket, no better than rugby when it comes to transformation, never feels the wrath of the Sports Minister or his colleagues. Why?
Is it because cricket was traditionally seen as an English sport and rugby as that of the Afrikaner? Does cricket get away with it because of the so-called white liberal association and rugby gets caned because of so-called Afrikaans conservatives?
If South African sport is to be transformed and representative of a new country then the sports ministry’s attitude has to be consistent to all sports, including cricket and soccer.
If Stofile believed so much in a cricket team devoid of black African representation, why can he not believe in a rugby team accused of a similar failing?
The answer could be that he, like rugby, is stuck in the past.
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240 Comments
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26 Jul 2007, 15:34 pm
Piet Im only going down on Sat morning. It will be a blast as always.
26 Jul 2007, 15:36 pm
we need to get some of those NBA dudes to help out in the engine room.. as the say white men cant jump and yet there are still no black locks! weird! you might have a point odogg!..
Love to test out some masai mara in the line out to!
26 Jul 2007, 15:36 pm
odogg,
You shouldn’t tar everyone with the same brush though, should you?
I mean George Bush is white but i wouldn’t want to be compared to him unless someone was to tell me that i’m nothing like him!
If you are black (which i am assuming to be the case), you wouldn’t be too thankful if i started comparing you to Robert Mugabe, purely on the basis that you share the same colour of skin, would you?
I agree with you that there needs to be more investment in the black community, that there need to be more black coaches. But I would also say that those coaches have a duty to promote fairness and equality for all, and shouldn’t be allowed to discriminate against those who were favoured before. It wasn’t the players fault that they were picked on the basis of their skin colour, was it?
This will be a slow process, but if done correctly, will be a success. You can’t change 300 years overnight. SA is 15 years into a new era, and so far i am hopeful that they will make a success of things.
But for it to truly happen, people will need to let go of what happened in the past and embrace the future. Being constantly reminded of what your forefathers did is one of life’s most difficult legacies. You can forever be apologetic and profoundly sorry, but there has to come a point where you just have to be allowed to move on.
As examples:
The German youth of today were not responsible for the holocaust, and they shouldn’t be forced to wear the shame that their ancestors brought upon them.
British youth of today were not responsible for slavery, and they shouldn’t be forced to wear the shame that their ancestors brought upon them.
I will say one last thing: when i was in SA last time out, i encountered a number of guys who were wearing shirts with De La Rey quotes on them. They were quite hostile to me as soon as they learned i was British, even though i was with a group of South Africans.
They were bitter about what went on in the Boer wars, something that happened over 100 years ago. I suggested that they should let go of their bitterness of something that they weren’t involved in, for if it was good enough for them to carry a chip on their shoulder, they couldn’t expect the black population of SA to give them a fair chance for a good few years. They went quite quiet after that.
26 Jul 2007, 15:36 pm
148
There are.
26 Jul 2007, 15:37 pm
Charo, before you point that righteous finger at me, I ask you, do you believe that Black players recieve equal development and playing opportunities as White players. If no, have you ever said anything. The greatest evil in the world is when good people see wrong and do/say nothing about it. Think about it. We have no option but to come with a far left position because the centre is quiet whilst the right has its way.
26 Jul 2007, 15:43 pm
well would that mean The SA goverments quiet stance on Zimbabwe would make them the greatest evil in the world!
26 Jul 2007, 15:44 pm
I see a guy like john mametsa, who might never play springbok rugby, as a success story. Reaching that height is already an achievement and he played under Heinecke. Why guys fall of the wagon is an open question. Drunk, lazy, lack of commitment take your pick.
I have said this before and will say it again. We have got more than enough talented black and coulored players to select a Bok team on merit. I know the word irratates the **** out of you odogg. Feel free to differ but that is my opinion.
26 Jul 2007, 15:45 pm
1. Quintin Davids… Actaully he is not ethnic black he is coloured! dam everything is so confusing these days!! Almost!
26 Jul 2007, 15:46 pm
Its simple.. if people get handed stuff on a plate they take it for granted…
26 Jul 2007, 15:50 pm
#157 directed at #147
26 Jul 2007, 15:52 pm
153,
I oviously dont feel that way about all my White compatriots. Some of my most trusted drinking buddies are White. It just infuriates me when White people refuse to be critical of their own. Do you know how much we rip the ANC and our PResident. We are absolutley critical and we challenge our leaders. Look at the recent cosatu strike. WHite people, good White people that is dont seem to have a voice when there are blatant injustices and wrongs being dealt to Blacks by their own. Our king KEO with such an amazing media reach will not utter **** for the plight of Black Rugby players. What conclusion do we draw. That he is a coward for not taking on the system or maybe that he supports it and harbours his own prejudices.
26 Jul 2007, 15:53 pm
odogg,
you are being sanctimonious, not me my mate. why is it that you choose to conveniently ignore the calls for better facilities for black players from white-skinned bloggers then call white-skinned south african “generally” racist. you are an emotional hothead and you and your like piss me off when you are in this mood.
oh, and before i forget, it would be wonderful for the govt to enforce national representation based on demographics for all sports (note – olympics)and then get all defensive when the world condemns it.
26 Jul 2007, 15:54 pm
Nog altyd?
26 Jul 2007, 15:56 pm
While I feel a slightly more moderate approach to the debate might do odogg and azza’s crusade a world of good, I can’t help but agree with their sentiment. White coaches don’t seem to have an awful of of faith in black players and don’t afford them the same leniancy when they hit a bad patch as they do for white players. It doesn’t surprise me at all that more black youngsters lose heart than their white counterparts.
And all these comments about the dangers of “rushing” blacks into positions, and how it’s a “long-term process” is simply justifying all the blah-blah wheelspin delay tactics that have prevented rugby from moving on in terms of representation since 1992.
15 years should have been ample time to make a significant difference.
26 Jul 2007, 16:03 pm
I have met a couple but none will ever be blessed enough to play Bok rugby or even provincial rugby.
The reason being they are the wrong color and their names are not right.
Go to some of the tertiary institutions you will find lots of them.
26 Jul 2007, 16:04 pm
165 is directed @ 158 & 159
26 Jul 2007, 16:05 pm
Couldn’t agree with you more Odogg. There is an abundance of talent where black ( both ethnic and coloured ) rugby players are concerned. admittedly there are those who fall of the rails who have no-one but themselves to blame. However there are plenty black players who are just not afforded the same opportunities as their white counterparts – that is a fact. If you can’t see that then you must be living in a different planet. There are those minority white South africans who of the strong belief that they need to protect their beloved sport of rugby from outside influence claiming all rights to the sport to themselves. Failing to realise what a national treasure this belovd sport is for ALL South Africans!!
26 Jul 2007, 16:08 pm
Facilities, shmatilities……………we want opportunity. Training. Development. We want to see Black players at the highest level. White coaches are not affording these opportunities. case in point, Wayne Julies and Wynaand Olivier. You guys advocate for a soft solution to appease. Build grounds and they will be happy. No we will be happy when Black players have provincial contracts and can make a living from RUgby. We will be happy when Black players get S14 contracts and make a tidy some. We will be happy when Black players get Springbok contracts and go to the World Cup and become millionares. Stop this condescending thing Charo of thinking we just build the Blacks a few grounds so they can run around and throw the Rugby ball and happeee. Rugby is huge and we are talking a transformation of the game on many spheres and levels. Your “build the grounds” theme is a thinly veiled protectionist agenda to ensure the resources, opportunities and economic spoils remain for White people
26 Jul 2007, 16:10 pm
and the sad truth is that in 4 years time we will be having this very same debate. personally it is unacceptable with what hoskins has been saying. 4 years ago the then head honcho uttered the same nonsense and nothing changed. odogg – keo bemoaned this fact that the union pres. received a slap on the wrist and still did nothing so your critism is a bit unfair. i am dead against enforced quotas at international level and by this include the s14 but it would be a good thing at cc level. we simply have to tap into the vast undiscovered talent that is out there. the bottom line more supporters means more money for saru which will allow them to spend more money on development etc. odogg – you do speak alot more sense when you’re not trying to imitate fidel.
26 Jul 2007, 16:12 pm
164,
I feel to strongly about the suject matter to be moderate. Call it a bloggers licence.
26 Jul 2007, 16:14 pm
Martin,
Its the revolutionary in me. I missed chucks of the struggle so I feel like this is my last chance. hahahahahaha!
26 Jul 2007, 16:17 pm
Chunks!!
26 Jul 2007, 16:24 pm
odogg,
regardless of what you say, facilities are almost non-existent in most parts of rural ec where the game is strong. so how will aspiring young black kids reach the level of s14 or bok contracts if they play on makeshift veld. i have seen photos of games in those areas, played and watched with great enthusiasm, but the basics like proper white lines, corner flags etc almost non-existent.
by the way, i prefer adie jacobs over olivier, murray or julies.
26 Jul 2007, 16:27 pm
what do you think of Tonderi Chavanga?
26 Jul 2007, 16:28 pm
Jacobs is good.. but i have a feeling that Murry will be better!
26 Jul 2007, 16:29 pm
dawn is bound to make a lewd comment about my last paragraph in #173
26 Jul 2007, 16:33 pm
adi jacobs has better hands, vision and acceleration than olivier or julies. waylon is a good one for the future but he is a 13 whereas i think adi is a natural 12
26 Jul 2007, 16:34 pm
odogg,
As kakpraat ‘n kolletjie was, was jou naam Spottie, die f@kkennnnnnn hond.
Militante stuk weggooi-kak-en-hare!!
26 Jul 2007, 16:35 pm
what annoys me more than anything else… it actually makes my blood boil .. its the fact that when a shite white play is selected ahead of other better players… he is called lucky and no issues… when its a black player on the same conditions… oh hell no its qoatas… our rugby is going down the drain blah blah blah… white dudes!… after all you ‘ve done to us?… and by the way you are still sitting comfortable in your surburbs… every dog has its day boys… our day will come…
26 Jul 2007, 16:36 pm
177 agreed..
26 Jul 2007, 16:39 pm
lazeybonez,
are you really robert mugabe?
26 Jul 2007, 16:40 pm
lazeybones!! was blacks who invented quotas!! its just our way of shoving the racist, dum idea back down your throats.. By introducing quota players you left yourselves wide open to those types of attcks.. As long as there are things like quotas, BE, AA, etc it will be very hard for any black player to succeed.. Your doing not ours!
26 Jul 2007, 16:43 pm
DD
Quotas were SARFUs idea to get the government off their back. Get your facts straight.
26 Jul 2007, 16:44 pm
Skunk.. please!!
26 Jul 2007, 16:47 pm
this thread has been hijacked by sacp and ancyl – i’m out – to read something more stimulating and mature.
26 Jul 2007, 16:49 pm
Charo… i aint no Bob son… actually was born in the EC if you care to know… where the likes of Makaya, Bobo, Zondeki, Steve Biko etc etc originated… i’m just giving you a perspective..
Durban Docks # 182… how else can we can get black people intergrated in the mainstream south african way of economic, social activity?… you had your chance you abused it immensely… and those who could jumped the ship to perth when they had a chance… you ‘ll never do it naturally history shows that… how else can it be done?
26 Jul 2007, 16:58 pm
DD
Thats one of the biggest problems with this forum. Most people here do not bother to check their facts.
184 does not make you smart or me dumb, It simply shows misinformation. And since that is the case lets rather leave it at that.
Charo
You think that corner poles are what makes a person a good player. Hog wash. there good players playing now who will never be seen playing because of how people like you and DD think.
Building a rugby field is good but giving equal opportunities is better.
26 Jul 2007, 16:59 pm
178#
GBS
Hello
Ek sukkel nog steeds om AB deur te gee aan die manne, heel dag al!
Miskien as middernag slaan binne 5 minute, sal dinge verander.
Daai ‘ou’ een met wie jy hier praat, sal nie verander nie.
Ek gaat hom maar los.
26 Jul 2007, 16:59 pm
lazeybonez,
That’s a lazy stereotype my man. There are plenty of non-whites who are “jumping ship” too now that they are skilled. Call it market forces.
Of course there were some whites who didn’t want to stick around when white rule ended. But there are plenty who did stick around and who want to actively contribute to South African society.
Please lose the chip. It ruins your look.
26 Jul 2007, 17:00 pm
Um.. What History??? never studied that one? infact we as a country are rewriting the history books as we go! never has so much control by a goverment been handed over with so little fighting!
things take time and effort..
26 Jul 2007, 17:00 pm
179# lazeybones
Jy praat k#k man.
26 Jul 2007, 17:02 pm
charo #185
Ja nee wat, hulle moet maar aanneuk.
26 Jul 2007, 17:04 pm
skunk until you acknowledge that there is a serious flaw in the way you think im wasting my time to..
Do you know how many great talented white players have not made it??
Do you get my point??
26 Jul 2007, 17:07 pm
Skunk,
I’ve received no mail yet…… were you just all talk & no action?
26 Jul 2007, 17:12 pm
GBS
Wanneer vlieg jy, more?
Ek hoop jy en skunk kry mekaar…alleen.
Dat julle kan gesels.
As dit dan nie werk nie, dan gaan ons steeds voort.
26 Jul 2007, 17:15 pm
GBS
There was no email address on there. there was only a phone number.
PS. If I was all talk a lot more people in this blog would know me.
26 Jul 2007, 17:15 pm
Pieta,
Ons vlieg more, moet reeds teen 14:30 op Lughawe wees……. ons kry die res van die groep daar en vlieg bietjie later na Deben.
Ek stem!
26 Jul 2007, 17:19 pm
GBS,
Whats with the Afrikaans gents. Lets keep it Anglo.
26 Jul 2007, 17:21 pm
Skunk,
You just missed the mail addie but here goes:
legal@
The rest is the same as the website addie after the www.
26 Jul 2007, 17:23 pm
odogg,
Why should we not talk Afrikaans……. so we can listen to your militant ****?
Gaan speel man……suka wena!!
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