Six goals too far
Race targets are ruining sport in South Africa. And it is time for politicians and administrators to stop swapping words on the issue. The policy of forcing selectors to choose a minimum number of black players in their teams has a negative impact on perf
The damage caused by racial quotas goes far beyond the exodus of top flight talent such as Kevin Pietersen (cricket) and Clyde Rathbone (rugby). And it goes beyond the bizarre decision to block rugby players who sign for offshore clubs from playing for their country. Racial quotas create an additional obstacle to selection and result in many young up-and-coming players with significant talent simply abandoning sport altogether.
Is government's intention in implementing racial quotas in sport really to create a new generation of disadvantaged people?
More points for black players
Political interference in sport has reached endemic proportions in our country as evidenced by the numerous political wrangles in the cricketing and rugby enclaves. The result is that racially based selection policies currently blight the face of almost every South African sporting code. Coaches, administrators and managers across the country are forced to select players based on race rather than merit. It is a situation which is grossly unfair and hugely damaging to sport in general
To demonstrate how farcical the situation has become, consider this recent social engineering proposal from Netball South Africa. Teams have to maintain the correct ratio of white to black players throughout the game to be awarded six extra goals. To implement the policy, teams have to be classified as 'white' or 'black' at the outset, practice which contradicts the very spirit of transformation. The policy is an insult to everyone concerned and we are amazed that government will stand by and allow such policy to be implemented.
Such policies exacerbate racial tensions, drive talented players from the sport and weaken the overall performance of South African teams on the international stage. Perhaps the Minister of Sport should approach the international football association and request that Bafana Bafana (the national soccer team) be allowed "three extra goals, 2 penalties and four dangerous tackles" in each game they play.
Professional sport is about winning
The aim of any professional sporting team is to win tournaments and to provide the best possible results for club and supporters. To secure the required results management has an obligation to choose the best team. And to choose the best team the selection process has to be based on merit and nothing else!
A truly professional manager or coach would be failing in his duty by refusing to pick a talented black athlete. A professional manager or coach no longer needs a politician to tell him to pick this individual. He will make the selection because selecting the best possible team is part of his job and his performance on the job is vital to him retaining it.
The South Africa we would like to see is one where all people have equal opportunity in all spheres of life. This requires the abolishment of race based selection processes. The playing field in sport and economics is level now and legacy issues need to be addressed through education and expenditure at ground roots levels.
Echoing the national demographic makes no sense
Echoing a country's racial makeup in a particular sporting code makes absolutely no sense. Could you imagine an American 100 metre relay team selecting three white sprinters because whites are in the majority there? The racial quota is an act of social engineering which should never have been attempted in the first place.
The politician's task is to ensure that a platform exists for free participation in sport a task which has already been accomplished in South Africa. Politicians are making a huge mistake if they believe that righting the previous disadvantages requires further intervention. In our view, the requirement for political intervention in sport ended when the playing field was levelled. Natural forces will ensure that teams reflect the country's demographics over time.
At present, no player should be denied the right to participate in a sporting code because of his colour. Everyone is free to play any sport they choose and should be able to compete for a position on a team on equal footing. The only stumbling block to being picked for a position in said team should be the players ability.
There was a time when global politics prevented South African sporting teams from playing on the international stage, and rightly so. Unfortunately we are fast approaching a situation where those governments who had a problem with South Africas racial selection policies in the past should be morally bound to take a similar stand again.
Editor's thoughts:
Sport and politics have been inseparable in South Africa since the international community realised the far reaching impact of using sport to spread political messages. Is it time to separate politics from sport once and for all? Send your comments to [email protected]
