Time for South African politicians to be good sports

I’ve just spent the afternoon letting those Welshmen on Will Carling’s site have it and then some. Pieter De Villiers’ finest have just shown the Six Nations champions that there is a world of difference between being the Northern Hemisphere’s top dogs and the team who hold the title of world champions. I would, however, just like to say that the Welsh were brilliant and gave us a real run for our money … unfortunately they were horrible and accordingly given a decent thrashing for their troubles.

Man, this is living. After a week of xenophobia, Zimbabwe, petrol-price hikes and all the other terrible things we’ve had the misfortune of witnessing, there’s nothing like a Springbok win to lift the spirits. In my case this is particularly satisfying, having listened to those Welshmen waffling on about Shane Williams day in and day out the whole week.

Sport really is the great unifier.

When it comes to rugby, despite the garbage some politicians would have you believe, transformation is really starting to take effect. This is not in any way conceding that the government has done nearly enough to promote the sport at grassroots level but simply that the game is finally starting to look as if it may well capture the imagination of all South Africans.

Fortunately for all concerned, the sport is in the hands of rugby people who should see it taken to the next level. As we all know, just a few months ago it almost found itself in the hands of politically orientated people. This would have ensured that the bulk of the money left the game in order to pay for the 67 000 nogshleppers who form part of any entourage that is born as soon as any politician starts running a sport.

Left alone our sports usually do the right thing. Left to politically minded people, you find that very little money finds its way to development and television rights fall into the hands of anyone but the public channel. Why spend all that money bringing rugby, cricket and soccer to the masses when it can be far better used for … um, something else?

When it comes to grassroots the politicians and those politically minded have done a fraction of what is required to take the games to our children. So when it comes to running sports I trust they won’t mind me asking them to stay a million miles away.

As Iraq found out recently, world sports bodies don’t take too kindly to governments running or interfering in sports. Fifa kicked them out for a year without blinking twice and that’s exactly how it should be.

In soccer, I’d be the first to admit that Bafana Bafana are a big disappointment to all South Africans. Given time and left alone, the people running the game will deliver the product at some stage. There is a great deal of money in our game and thanks to Parreira, Safa is aware that they have not put nearly enough into bringing through our youngsters. I trust that Santana will keep hammering the point home.

Cricket is the one area where the politicians are courting disaster. They must allow the administration, coach and team the opportunity to develop the game without any interference. Recently the Proteas went unbeaten in a series through Bangladesh, Pakistan and India. After they lost one Test we heard all the politicians grumbling about not being good enough. This shows that they didn’t even understand what an incredible achievement that was.

At a time when South Africa is experiencing sharp growing pains the government must be made to understand how vital sport is to our wellbeing. It really does unite us amid the things which tear us apart. This is vital to our growth as a country.

As a signal to sports lovers that the government understands the need for supporting rather than controlling sports, they might want to return Nconde Balfour in the place of Mr Stofile as Minister of Sport.

It’s the least they can do.