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Meeting about a meeting

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Sport24 columnist Graeme Joffe (File)
Sport24 columnist Graeme Joffe (File)
Email Inbox: Monday, October 29, 2012 – 08:10: “Media Invitation from SARU – Rugby Transformation Indaba”

The Indaba from October 30-31.

Addressing the Indaba will be Mr Oregan Hoskins, president of SARU, Mr Gideon Sam, president of SASCOC and a representative of the Ministry for Sport and Recreation (hope it’s Gert Oosthuizen – really enjoy his passion and energy). 

Thanks for the heads up SA Rugby, (an invite the day before the Indaba) - unfortunately I am not able to make it but I have sent my kids to see this puppet show, starring Pinocchio.

Transformation in rugby?

How many years have we heard about this?

It’s become a standing joke, speaking of which I hear SARU will be enforcing the quota system in Super Rugby next year.

The Sharks will have to pick at least 5 Indian players
The Stormers will have to pick at least 5 Greek players
The Bulls will have to pick at least 5 Afrikaans speaking players
The Cheetahs will have to pick at least 5 Coloured players
The Kings will have to pick at least 5 Rugby players

Jokes aside, another Rugby Transformation Indaba? That’s all SARU ever seem to do - have meetings about meetings.

Hope I’m wrong and this Indaba will be the one where change is forthcoming (not quotas) and players of all colour and creed are given an equal opportunity to shine on the rugby stage.

There is so much talent out there, one just needs to look at the Boland area, which should be one of the bigger feeding grounds for future Bok stars.

Perhaps, SARU should be taking a leaf out of Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) book on transformation and not getting advice from their terrible twin, SASCOC.

SA cricket is now blessed to have so many great players and coaches of colour led by Hashim Amla - who by the way has my vote for 2012 SA sports star of the year. Those are the awards organised by the sports ministry and SASCOC, which cost R45 million last year.

Wonder how much this year, now that SASCOC is “cash strapped”?

Let’s not go there, but chances of me getting an invite to the awards? Slim and none - and slim just left town! (Can’t find the damn computer keyboard key for the “sad face”)

The  awards are on November 4 and the Sandton Convention Centre caterers won’t need any gravy for the mash - there’ll be so much there!
 
SASCOC, meanwhile are still fighting the cause for their “legal friend”, Norman Arendse in his dispute with CSA.

The case is going to arbitration as soon as an independent mediator, suitable to both parties is found. Still can’t believe someone within CSA would have promised Mr Arendse the position of chairperson of the board, knowing his CSA track record. But he’s got the best ally in SASCOC as they are real flat track bullies, who want their “mates” to be high up in all SA sporting codes and of course the Lotto.

SASCOC want to control all the purse strings. 

So, I wasn’t at all surprised to see last week’s story that the National Lotteries Distribution Trust Fund has reduced the money it gives to the country’s sporting codes, capping it at R2 million.

What the story didn’t say was how much would be given to SASCOC to spend on their jetsetting around the world. 

More money perhaps?

The SASCOC election is just around the corner and good luck to the sporting codes who don’t vote for Sam, Reddy and company. Your grant from SASCOC/Lotto could be as much as some of the most needy charities.

Zero!    
   
The whole process is so extorted and if SASCOC doesn’t undergo a full forensic audit now, SA sport will long remain on the back foot, at the mercy of these “gravy train” officials.
  
However, I was surprised to see Mr Sam got into some hot water with gay rights groups after he reportedly derided the Gay Games at the Sports Industry Summit. Only because he heads up an organisation that spends with such “gay” abandon on themselves, family and friends.
 
But his comment at the summit just shows a real lack of class and leadership.

Sam was quoted as saying: “SASCOC did not govern the Gay Games, because the body was involved in the administration of  ‘serious sport’ in South Africa.“

The Gay Games is the world’s largest sporting event organised by and specifically for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual athletes.

Finally, in his latest SASCOC president’s column, Mr Sam says CEO Mr Reddy has shared with him a long list of things that still need to be done before they can take a ‘well deserved’ break at the end of the year.

Well deserved?
 
Hasn’t the SASCOC gravy train had enough breaks this year in London, China, Corfu and all the other meeting places!

Email Graeme at: graeme@butterbean.co.za

Catch Graeme Joffe on SportsFire every Monday and Thursday at 17:30 on Radio Today, 1485am in JHB, National on DStv audio channel 169 and streaming worldwide on www.1485.org.za. Follow Graeme Joffe on Twitter: @joffersmyboy

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