IT is safe to say that the big sporting codes in South Africa are in a bit of a mess.
Things are not looking good for our rugby, soccer or cricket at the moment. There is always hope, and certainly the ability, that we can turn things around.
To do this it will take some hard work on and off the field, and in the process the COVID-19 challenges must be sidestepped in the Cheslin Kolbe manner.
On the soccer field, Bafana has been underperforming again this year and the administrators were quick to look to Europe in finding the next coach.
Are there really not any local coaches up to the task? Surely a local coach is better equipped to work with our talent and in a situation where the coach at least doesn’t need a translator?
The cricket administrators have even bigger challenges. They messed things up badly with their infighting and it is very unsure of what lies ahead, on and off the field.
At least we are still the rugby world champions – that is if you can remember that the Springboks won the World Cup way back in November 2019.
The Boks haven’t been in action since then and it is still unclear if and when the British and Irish Lions will be visiting South Africa for what was seen as possibly one of the best test series in the modern era of the game.
To prepare the Boks for the Lions series, we will see the Rainbow Cup SA matches kicking off this coming Saturday.
It is not the planned Pro14 Rainbow Cup anymore, COVID-19 putting an end to that for now, but at least we get seven weeks of the Bulls, Sharks, Stormers and Lions taking each other on.
Exciting stuff, hey? Maybe not so much, because it feels as though this will just be another mini Currie Cup tournament.
At least the Bulls will have something to aim for. They can win the Currie Cup twice in one year!
Speaking of the Bulls, they must be doing something right in these chaotic sporting times. They have shown that the difficult times can be turned around. It was a quick turnaround from a struggling franchise to the pacesetter in South African sport.
Maybe our cricket and soccer administrators can knock on that door for some guidance.
There is a perception that the Bulls are buying their trophies.
That might be so, but it still took some administrative vision to rebuild the union’s professional arm with the involvement of the Rupert and Motsepe families.
The Bulls will also point out that they are well within the salary cap. In this process they let go of many players that are not in the plans of their coach Jake White.
They created a stable and dynamic environment which is geared for success, even in COVID-19 times.
It is time for the rest of South Africa’s top sports administrators to catch up with the Bulls now; they owe it to their loyal fans!
