By Renelle Naidoo
Gauteng coach Matthew Govender expressed his dissatisfaction on Wednesday with the suspensions meted out to Gauteng by Volleyball South Africa.
Following the findings and recommendations by the Samuel Commission of Inquiry, Govender and 10 of his players were suspended with immediate effect until January 2003, when a disciplinary committee will decide their fate.
Govender maintained that neither he nor his team had colluded at the senior interprovincial tournament in Potchefstroom two months ago.
"I find it difficult to believe that Freedom Chiye's word was gospel over 10 others," he said.
"Players from three Gauteng clubs testified that they weren't instructed to throw away the game - something the commissioner obviously overlooked."
Chiye informed the commission that Govender had instructed the team to lose the game against KwaZulu-Natal.
"I was informed by Donovan Nair, VSA Pro, that Chiye had made those allegations. But then, when he was confronted, he denied everything."
The former Durbanite believed he didn't have to play KZN in the round-robin phase because his place in the final was secure. "WP were upset because we thrashed them in the first game," said Govender.
Govender stressed his unhappiness with VSA's decision not to suspend the Western Province team for their alleged actions which, he said, included racism, derogatory remarks, defamation and destruction.
After the tournament, Govender was instructed by VSA officials, fearing for his safety, to wait in the sports centre until WP had dispersed. Two hours later, he found that his brand-new BMW had not only been defaced but also urinated on.
"The perpetrators went unpunished. How is that possible? And they hurled such racially abusive remarks at my player Sediegeng Seemane that he was too traumatised to play."
About his selection of players, Govender said: "I had 10 players and needed to give all of them an opportunity to play. Ryaan Lahldas, although the national setter, plays just as well in an outside hitter's position.
"We had travelled a long distance, were tired and had a hectic schedule ahead of us.
"With no financial reward, it was my duty to ensure that all the players were given the chance to play."
Govender plans to explore all avenues to ensure that justice prevails.