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Sport24 columnist Graeme Joffe (File)
Lies, lies and more lies.
I got a call from the producer of 702’s new sports show, asking me if I had heard Gideon Sam’s interview and his version about the pre-election SASCOC email that went to sporting federations with the voting recommendations.
Unfortunately, I missed the interview, otherwise I would have been the first to call in.
But it’s just amazing to me, how the SASCOC president can keep on lying and get away with it.
On 702, Sam said there was no such email and “I think that’s an insult to the leaders of our federations. Those are independent people, some hold high positions. Just to suggest that some were instructed how to vote means we have a very, very poor system in this country.“
Mr Sam, you are insulting the intelligence of the SA sporting public.
I have the email and I have it on good authority from a number of the sporting federations that they received it ahead of the elections.
It is there for all to see in one of my previous columns.
If only this was his first lie.
Mr Sam lied on my show, SportsFire last year about the SASCOC tender for PR that never went to tender (still something fishy about that whole deal). He admitted to lying while standing before the parliamentary portfolio committee on sports and recreation, while asking for R400 million to prepare our Olympic athletes for Rio 2016 and now this SASCOC “election fix”.
Also, what kind of person says: “I will fall on my sword if we don’t get 12 Olympics medals in London” and yet he’s still president of SASCOC.
Ironically, before he agreed to go on the 702 show, Sam asked the producer if he works with “Joffe” – so, I’ll take that as a compliment.
I’m fishing.
But I have to ask why 702 (LeadSA) are so soft on SASCOC. It was another “nice cosy chat” with Gideon. It is “misleading SA” by not grilling these officials. LeadSA fixes potholes, you fix robots – why not fix SA sport or is SASCOC a client?
I would relish the opportunity to go one on one with Gideon Sam.
Until then, let’s have “SASCOC Fridays”. Let’s get 50 million shirts from the SA Olympic team clothing manufacturer, Erke. All aboard, we going business class to China! Wouldn’t you just love to know who got what in that whole Erke deal – it stinks to high heaven and all the fuss about it not being a SA company was quickly swept under the carpet. Interestingly enough, the Proudly South African “buy local” campaign chief executive at the time was Leslie Sedibe, who is at the centre of the SAFA match fixing allegations.
Erke-dokey!
The fact is that SASCOC spend public monies like it’s their own bank account, while the majority of the SA sporting codes are suffering with no sponsors and no money.
But some of the codes are also to blame for the tough position they find themselves in.
Swimming SA (SSA) run by “SASCOC co-opted” board member, Jace Naidoo, does itself no favours.
SSA doesn’t have enough money to send our swimmers to overseas competitions but just recently, found it in order to send the SSA competitions manager to Australia as a “team manager”. She has a daughter there – so, it turned out to be a nice “free” little family visit.
No doubt, business class as well.
It’s all just so sick and makes me angry and sad that athletes and coaches careers are being jeopardized by greedy, selfish administrators on the gravy train.
Schools, universities, federations and athletes don’t dare say this in public. They will be “castrated” and will not get any funding from LOTTO or SASCOC if they dare voice any criticism towards these structures.
Is this how sport in SA should be run?
What about money for elite athletes with disabilities? SASCOC has no plan or structure or anyone who is prepared to take a stand, give answers or make decisions which can be relied on.
SASCOC board member, Kobus Marais made some promises to the disabled sports if they voted for him.
But Mr Marais has been too busy putting his friends in high places in Powerboat SA (PSA), now that SASCOC thinks they have won their year long legal battle with the previous PSA administration, although the entire matter is still sub-judice.
The SASCOC dream - a sole mandate to look after yourself and your mates.
The majority of SA’s Paralympians prepared for London 2012, at their own cost, or money provided by the universities bursary system and will continue to do so for 2016 if there is no plan in place.
I know a lot of people are saying “I’m flogging a dead horse” but remember Lance Armstrong wasn’t caught in a day.
Journalist, David Walsh first exposed Armstrong 13 years ago and relentlessly pursued the American cyclist after he won his first Tour de France.
Walsh was initially a lone voice against “lying Lance”.
I may be a lone voice about SASCOC’s dirty laundry (just hope it doesn’t take 13 years for them to come clean as SA sport will be dead and buried by then).
But I will not give up the ghost until there’s a full forensic audit of SASCOC or Gideon Sam and Tubby Reddy go on Oprah.
Have your choice gentlemen.
Got a feeling they’ll opt for Oprah and “business class” to Chicago!
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
Disclaimer: Sport24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on Sport24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sport24.
I got a call from the producer of 702’s new sports show, asking me if I had heard Gideon Sam’s interview and his version about the pre-election SASCOC email that went to sporting federations with the voting recommendations.
Unfortunately, I missed the interview, otherwise I would have been the first to call in.
But it’s just amazing to me, how the SASCOC president can keep on lying and get away with it.
On 702, Sam said there was no such email and “I think that’s an insult to the leaders of our federations. Those are independent people, some hold high positions. Just to suggest that some were instructed how to vote means we have a very, very poor system in this country.“
Mr Sam, you are insulting the intelligence of the SA sporting public.
I have the email and I have it on good authority from a number of the sporting federations that they received it ahead of the elections.
It is there for all to see in one of my previous columns.
If only this was his first lie.
Mr Sam lied on my show, SportsFire last year about the SASCOC tender for PR that never went to tender (still something fishy about that whole deal). He admitted to lying while standing before the parliamentary portfolio committee on sports and recreation, while asking for R400 million to prepare our Olympic athletes for Rio 2016 and now this SASCOC “election fix”.
Also, what kind of person says: “I will fall on my sword if we don’t get 12 Olympics medals in London” and yet he’s still president of SASCOC.
Ironically, before he agreed to go on the 702 show, Sam asked the producer if he works with “Joffe” – so, I’ll take that as a compliment.
I’m fishing.
But I have to ask why 702 (LeadSA) are so soft on SASCOC. It was another “nice cosy chat” with Gideon. It is “misleading SA” by not grilling these officials. LeadSA fixes potholes, you fix robots – why not fix SA sport or is SASCOC a client?
I would relish the opportunity to go one on one with Gideon Sam.
Until then, let’s have “SASCOC Fridays”. Let’s get 50 million shirts from the SA Olympic team clothing manufacturer, Erke. All aboard, we going business class to China! Wouldn’t you just love to know who got what in that whole Erke deal – it stinks to high heaven and all the fuss about it not being a SA company was quickly swept under the carpet. Interestingly enough, the Proudly South African “buy local” campaign chief executive at the time was Leslie Sedibe, who is at the centre of the SAFA match fixing allegations.
Erke-dokey!
The fact is that SASCOC spend public monies like it’s their own bank account, while the majority of the SA sporting codes are suffering with no sponsors and no money.
But some of the codes are also to blame for the tough position they find themselves in.
Swimming SA (SSA) run by “SASCOC co-opted” board member, Jace Naidoo, does itself no favours.
SSA doesn’t have enough money to send our swimmers to overseas competitions but just recently, found it in order to send the SSA competitions manager to Australia as a “team manager”. She has a daughter there – so, it turned out to be a nice “free” little family visit.
No doubt, business class as well.
It’s all just so sick and makes me angry and sad that athletes and coaches careers are being jeopardized by greedy, selfish administrators on the gravy train.
Schools, universities, federations and athletes don’t dare say this in public. They will be “castrated” and will not get any funding from LOTTO or SASCOC if they dare voice any criticism towards these structures.
Is this how sport in SA should be run?
What about money for elite athletes with disabilities? SASCOC has no plan or structure or anyone who is prepared to take a stand, give answers or make decisions which can be relied on.
SASCOC board member, Kobus Marais made some promises to the disabled sports if they voted for him.
But Mr Marais has been too busy putting his friends in high places in Powerboat SA (PSA), now that SASCOC thinks they have won their year long legal battle with the previous PSA administration, although the entire matter is still sub-judice.
The SASCOC dream - a sole mandate to look after yourself and your mates.
The majority of SA’s Paralympians prepared for London 2012, at their own cost, or money provided by the universities bursary system and will continue to do so for 2016 if there is no plan in place.
I know a lot of people are saying “I’m flogging a dead horse” but remember Lance Armstrong wasn’t caught in a day.
Journalist, David Walsh first exposed Armstrong 13 years ago and relentlessly pursued the American cyclist after he won his first Tour de France.
Walsh was initially a lone voice against “lying Lance”.
I may be a lone voice about SASCOC’s dirty laundry (just hope it doesn’t take 13 years for them to come clean as SA sport will be dead and buried by then).
But I will not give up the ghost until there’s a full forensic audit of SASCOC or Gideon Sam and Tubby Reddy go on Oprah.
Have your choice gentlemen.
Got a feeling they’ll opt for Oprah and “business class” to Chicago!
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
Disclaimer: Sport24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on Sport24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sport24.
