The Way Ahead for South African Sport – Solutions for soccer, quotas and national success.
After writing the previous piece on Bafana's premature exit from CHAN and their woeful decline over the past 15 or 16 years, it was easy to criticise and explain away their efforts at mediocrity (or worse). But perhaps that is too easy. Perhaps some plans and ideas to make it right would balance this process of examination.
With the dreaded 'Q' word in mind ('quotas' in rugby, cricket, etc) and Bafana's declining performances and rankings over the years, it is clear that there are a number of obstacles to overcome in terms of addressing the racial imbalance and at the same time doing so to the chosen sport's advantage.
No Black player wants to be called a 'quota' – getting into a team on colour rather than merit. It is degrading and insulting. It also negatively affects team morale if colour is a pre-requisite rather than ability.
Now, I'm not saying we shouldn't be pressing ahead on balancing demographics in sport, quite the opposite. Black Africans account for almost 80% of the population (79.9% according to the 2011 Census) and it seems incredible that the Springboks for instance routinely select zero Black Africans aside from Beast Mtawairia (born in Zimbabwe). Whites and coloureds make up the rest.
So where are all these Black players?
Or are we just not a true sporting nation? We certainly stake a place on the podium for obesity (but that is an discussion for another day) and we have had plenty of success on rugby fields, the swimming pool, golf courses and, to a degree, on cricket pitches. But there has been no sustained success.
And here we come to the central solution of quotas and quality sportsmen across the board (not just cricket, rugby and soccer):
Sport at a grassroots' level needs a massive injection of resources and commitment from government and sporting bodies to grow a culture of participation and excellence.
If you picture a pyramid with the apex representing elite sportsmen and women, then the base is all the participants from where to select the Boks, Proteas, Bafana players, Olympians and so on. But without a large base, you have a small sample to collect from when it comes to representing your country. And if your best is mediocre, then your best will achieve mediocrity. And we simply cannot celebrate this.
Enforcing participation at schools where many have no facilities for teaching, much less sport or coaching. Some toyi-toying teachers are much too busy for that arbitrary stuff. Sport every day after school will mean more coaches. More coaches improves the intellectual capital in the country. More kids on sportsfields means less obesity, gangsterism and drugs. (Ever tried breaking into a house after three hours of flat out sport?)
The other factors are coaching and administration. Both appear to be poorly managed in many sporting codes and this is cause for concern. There has been no arresting the slide (remember Bafana's fall from grace since 1996?). Sports Administration is a mess in many codes due to political infighting or maladministration. Sponsors don't want to be associated with them and the athletes are the ones who lose out.
And this isn't only at a provincial or national level, but an international level as well. In May 2008, SASCOC did not have the resources to send the team to the Olympic Games. An urgent application had been made to the National Lotteries Board (NLB) for assistance.
"Even four months or six months before the actual Olympics we were still looking for money; we were not so sure where the money would come from …" Gideon Sam told SABC News on March 29, 2009.
Great Britain has a population of roughly 60 million. South Africa's population is not too far behind with around 50 million. Team Great Britain earned a total of 47 medals at the Beijing Olympics (their target was 41) and South Africa just one. The British Olympic Association's aspirational target was 60 medals in 2012 (they finished with 65). South Africa managed three.
Clearly something is not right. Sport's Minister Fikile Mbalula lambasted the limp-wristed effort from Bafana at CHAN and rightly so. But to not send a youthful team in preparation for the Olympics and future Bafana stars was a wasted opportunity at development of the youth.
And much wailing and gnashing of teeth will take place in the aftermath and very little will be done. The Sports' Ministery has the potential to do great things for South Africa – in a social, economic and health aspect aside from sports' development. But will they?