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Transformation in sport – 21 years on

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Twenty one years into democracy South Africa still struggles with issues of transformation in sports that were previously dominated by whites. Black coaches say there is still a need for transformation in these sports.

Though government is making strides in speeding up the process, former Springboks coach Peter de Villiers thinks some people are reluctant to see transformed teams.

“The truth is we never moved on as a country, our great leader Mandela forgave people who never asked for forgiveness and those are the people who think and are moving back to the old habit of not changing.” says de Villiers.

De Villiers says that it seems like black players are being done a favour for being put in the squads. He says some people’s attitude is like “why are you squealing, we are doing you a favour to tolerate you.”

Though many in these sports feel strongly about this topic, not many are willing to speak their mind when it comes to these necessary changes.

De Villiers says he knows why many black players and coaches are afraid to come out and speak out against the lack of transformation.

“As soon as they start talking about these issues they are going to side-line themselves because nobody stands up for them and nobody cares about them, they know if they’re going to speak their mind, they might just lose their spot in the team.”

In our team we play a lot of black Africans and our team is not weak.

In cricket the issue is still topical after the recent sms saga regarding the selection of Vernon Philander at the recent Cricket World Cup semi-final.

Highveld Lions coach, Geoffrey Toyana says “It (transformation) is a sensitive issue and it gets tough on us as coaches because we are still involved in the game, and we work with black and white players, but I don’t think it’s something we need to run away from.”

Toyana continues to say that there is no truth to the view that picking black players will weaken a team. “For example in our team we play a lot of black Africans and our team is not weak.”

He says the process is evident in the lower levels of cricket but when you get to the level of representing the country, things are different.

“At franchise level, semi-pro level and at the schools, I think they are trying to do a lot there, but I think the biggest challenge is once you get to the Proteas.”

On the other hand government is feeling under pressure to speed up the process of transformation particularly in rugby and cricket, after an Indaba initiated by the current sports minister revealed unsatisfactory findings.

In a recent interview on SAFM, Minister of Sport, Fikile Mbalula says they have set up a body to deal with the issue of transformation in sport.

“We established the Eminent Persons Group (EPG), which is chaired by Prof. Somadoda Fikeni, which has been doing work, they have interacted with the top 5 federations, and because of the establishment of the EPG, in May we will be signing an agreement for the implementation of transformation in sport.” says Mbalula.

– By Dinilohlanga Mekuto

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