Johannesburg – The manner in which Cricket South Africa has acquiesced to demands from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was not “right”, said Gideon Sam, president of the South African Sports Commission and Olympic Committee, on Tuesday.
Speaking on a day when Sascoc were looking back at the successes of the year and outlining their plans for the future, Sam said they had told the CSA of their disappointment over the way they had handled the BCCI’s heavy-handiness over the appointment of new CSA CEO Haroon Lorgat. The BCCI all but threatened to call off the India tour of South Africa if Lorgat was involved. A compromise was reached in which Lorgat would not be seen nor heard during the tour, which was shortened despite a previous agreement, and which cost CSA an estimated R200-million.
“It can’t be right. It definitely cannot be right,” said Sam. “We have made our opposition very clear. I’ve said to the president and the CEO of Cricket South Africa, ‘Guys, we can’t be stretched like that. Yes, we know (BCCI) have the money, but if we are going to run the future of sport in the world on that basis, then we’re in trouble.
“We need to be given respect. If that is our appointment, then that is our appointment. We can’t listen to someone say, ‘We don’t want this man because of whatever … no, no, no …’ Our position is very clear. We said when the situation emerged, ‘Guys, you can’t capitulate. There’s no way you can do this.’ Because, what does it mean the next time if they say, ‘We don’t want that captain.’ What then? Respect the individuality of the federation. Don’t let them take decisions.”
Sascoc have been accused by the IAAF of meddling in the affairs of Athletics South Africa, who remain suspended from Sascoc. Sam, though, said he could see light in the tunnel with regards to relations between the two, and believed that there would be South African track and field athletes at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next year.
“Things are moving in the right direction with ASA,” said Sam. “We are still waiting for the IAAF to come back to us. Sam Ramsamy is ready to draw a line in the sand with IAAF and tell them to let South African sort out their own problems. I am sure there will be South African athletes in Glasgow. We still have them on our operation excellence programme; they are still our athletes. We still want them to win medals for us.”
Sascoc will be sending a handful of athletes, coaches and administrators over to Gemona in Italy this Friday to formalise an agreement between the Italian Olympic committee and South Africa to use the city as a training base in Europe. Chad le Clos was amongst those expect to attend, but on Tuesday he was making noises about not travelling to Italy. His father, Bert, was overheard telling a caller on his phone that his son would not be going to Gemona.
“We’ve signed a partnership with Coni (Italian Olympic committee),” said Tubby Reddy, Sascoc CEO. “It will minimise costs for us to travel. The Italian Olympic Committee will provide certain services, for which we will pay, which is part of the agreement.”
The Star