Rob Houwing’s TV sport column

The SABC pundits versus the SuperSport ones … you could probably put together an intriguing, cosmopolitan little six- or seven-a-side between them during the FIFA World Cup.

Some of them might be a little creaky-limbed, but I’m imagining an Auckland Park squad with a spine comprising Messrs George Weah, Kevin Keegan, Paul Ince, Dwight Yorke, Jay-Jay Okocha and Abedi Pele, with Deshi Baktawer and Roger de Sa slugging it out for goalkeeper’s spot.

Gary Bailey, of course, would be a trusty presence between the SuperSport sticks, with the Randburg-based corporation summoning for outfield needs stars like Daniel Amokachi and John Barnes … and, er, yes, Bob Skinstad for a bit of midfield “muscularity” given his more recognised rugby pedigree.

The last-named personality will be among those hosting magazine shows during the soccer spectacular.

Might Terry Paine be coaxed out of a rocking chair for defensive solidity, too?

While you weigh up the respective combatants, remember that you’ll see plenty of them, depending on your broadcaster of choice as both SABC and SuperSport provide saturation coverage for the month or so.

Mind you, the BBC are sparing no expense with their World Cup offering to the UK public, so perhaps we might consider turning my imaginary “tournament” into a triangular.
And I’m a bit inclined to rapidly swing my money their way, in that event.

How’s this for a Beeb “squad”? It could include any of Gary Lineker (key presenter), or studio experts Alan Hansen, Alan Shearer (ah, the great Toon man!), Lee Dixon, Gordon Strachan, John Motson, Jurgen Klinsmann, Emmanuel Adebayor and Clarence Seedorf.

Then there’s roving reporter Garth Crooks (remember his Tottenham exploits?), or back-up commentators Mark Lawrenson, Mark Bright, Mick McCarthy (not Roy Keane’s best mate, of course) and Martin Keown.

I imagine various other big broadcasters worldwide will have assembled their own panels of super-heavyweights.

It was a tad amusing to read in City Press a few days ago that regular SABC presenters are “up in arms” over that organisation’s top-dollar recruitment for the tournament of World Cup-winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari and Liberian legend Weah.

According to the paper, there is talk that Scolari will earn about R145 000 per shift, while the likely lads more used to calling humdrum PSL action earn between R3 000 and R5 000.

Justice? I don’t know, suffice to say that World Cups don’t come our way every day and that the term “how the cookie crumbles” comes to mind …

Rob’s (especially) awesome foursome:

1. South Africa v Mexico, FIFA World Cup soccer
Johannesburg, Friday 16:00, SABC1, SS3, SS HD & Maximo
Here we go, here we go, here we go! With an ever-shrinking contingent of foreign fans visiting our shores during these challenging economic times, FIFA ought to be deeply grateful that South Africans are rallying in such numbers for the extra tickets being pushed onto the market. A happy spinoff, you would think, is that this has become, more and more, OUR World Cup. And on that wave of domestic euphoria ride Bafana, bayonets fixed, into battle. The Mexicans remain much higher in the rankings, but the mere fact that this is the opener is arguably a great leveller. My tip? A cagey draw.

2. West Indies v South Africa, 1st cricket Test
Port of Spain, to Monday 16:00, SS2
“The Forgotten” was a 2004 psycho-thriller starring the ever-vivacious Julianne Moore. If they made a 2010 sequel, perhaps they might zoom in on the Proteas, who seem – through no special fault of their own – to be an afterthought on the nation’s minds right now! It probably doesn’t help that they’re in particularly faraway Trinidad as footie fever grips South Africa. But a Test match is a Test match, and there are those of us who still keep a loyal eye on proceedings at Port of Spain. Back-breaking featherbed or not, I’m inclined to suggest the Proteas will go 1-0 up, against a Windies team plagued by internal rumblings of dissent and featuring such less-than-Bradmanesque cricketing names as Shillingford and Pascal …

3. South Africa v France, rugby Test
Cape Town, Saturday 14:00, M-Net, SS1 & M-Net HD
The last time these teams met at Newlands, Jake White’s Boks were humbled by four tries to one and some of the current brigade will not have forgotten it. Five SA starters in 2006 line up again: John Smit, Danie Rossouw, Victor Matfield, Bryan Habana and Wynand Olivier. About the only South African highlight I recall was Os du Randt sneaking up on – and then clattering into -- Dimitri Yachvili when the ball-clutching French No 9 least expected it. Oof! It’s time for some rather broader payback, don’t you think? SABC2 will have a delayed broadcast of the game from 17:00, for those without decoders.

4. Argentina v Nigeria, FIFA World Cup soccer
Johannesburg, Saturday 16:00, SABC1, SS3, SS HD & Maximo
A cracking day two of the tournament, I think, with a strong “late game” (20:30) between England and perhaps their main challengers in Group C, the United States, in Rustenburg which is where I’m headed as part of my World Cup road trip. But as a TV spectacle, I’ve opted here for the tantalising Group B match-up between Argentina – yes, Lionel Messi and company – and one of Africa’s most established powerhouses, the Super Eagles of Nigeria. Ellis Park ought to rock, especially given the Big Smoke’s not insignificant Nigerian community …