24 January 2014, Cape Town
The South African Communist Party (SACP) in the Western Cape Province is vehemently opposed to the remarks uttered by the Minister of Sport Cde Fikile Mbalula, on the 20th January 2014.
Mbalula`s remarks come after our national team was defeated by Nigeria out of the CHAN tournament. As the SACP we regard soccer as a competitive sport where teams have an equal chance of winning or losing depending on a number of contributory factors, and not just the capability and willingness of players both as individuals and a collective.
Whatever might be at stake, the final result, must always be accepted where fair play was guaranteed, and not used as a yardstick to instigate any negative reaction on either side that was competing.
Soccer remains the most popular sport in the country, which has a historic role and legacy in giving our people hope and happiness during the oppressive era of apartheid. This particular sport united the working class in solidarity and at times gave the hope and courage to resist the discriminatory laws of apartheid.
It is against this background that we find it unfortunate for the Minister of Sports and Recreation to react in a manner that suggests our team is a group of losers that lacks a historical understanding. The comments lack appreciation of the basic rules of fair play and the importance of this sporting code in social coherence and nation building. We also reject the isolation of Moeneeb Josephs - soccer is not an individual but a collective team effort.
As the SACP we are expecting the Minister of Sports and Recreation to be the custodian of the sportsmanship. Thus he should transcend beyond narrow personal feelings, understand that mature words of encouragement should come from him.
A Minister of Sports and Recreation should be entrusted as a guardian of the values of sportsmanship instead of behaving in a destructive and disgruntled manner subjecting Moeneeb Josephs to ridicule and embarrassment.
Our national teams have been performing below par for a considerable period and no amount of narrow, short-sighted and populist rant calculated to attract media headlines is going to resolve the fundamental problems in our sporting fraternity.
We have major problems because of bosses and administrators` obsession with greed and lack of leadership or vision. Instead of investing in grassroots community sports development including school sports the Minister is obsessed with Hollywood-style awards costing millions.
Leadership is required in sports to harness the abundant raw talent in working class communities through the creation of conditions for professional development of athletes of highest quality instead of ridiculing players, breaking their spirits and destroying their future prospects.
Issued by SACP Western Cape
Contact:
Masonwabe Sokoyi - SACP Provincial Spokesperson
Mobile: 074 177 2068
Email: sacpwc.media@gmail.com