Johannesburg - Over a few years ago, a Springbok coach told me he understood the power of the media and that sometimes he, and many others of his kind, got a little peeved at not knowing how best to deal with not having control of the beast. It was simple.
Just remember one thing, I told him: “Most of us will still have our jobs long after you are canned.” He agreed.
Not long after, he was canned. I still have my job. I never called for him to be fired, but I suspect he knew his time was about to come. There are some mistakes you just cannot ignore or fix. This week two national coaches whose time may be up very soon kicked against the dying of the light.
Russell Domingo of the Proteas did not much care for two questions from a senior cricket writer about his future and as his post-World Cup presser finished said to the journalist: “It’s clear you want me fired.”
Shakes Mashaba has been feisty with journalists for some time as Bafana continue to take one step forward and three back under his management. Asking about his future or about why he hasn’t picked a certain player is a media plot, apparently. This week he accused journalists of a co-ordinated campaign. “Some of the questions are practised. They come from somewhere,” he said. The questions come from puzzling selection decisions and poor performances.
“I’m a human being, I’ve got blood, I’ve got family, I’ve got grandkids. Imagine when they read nonsense like #Shakesmustfall.” It’s not a great argument. Shakes wants the world to remember he is just a man, of flesh and blood, with feelings. So, he passed on the blame to others of flesh and blood instead. It was the fault of the PSL, he said. You should ask Neil Tovey, Safa’s technical director, he said. It’s not my fault.
When he gained qualification for the Afcon in his first period in charge, he said: “If we are still having those doubters, I think they are doing that at their own peril.” Unless the peril is a snarky chirp in a press conference, then the only person in peril right now is the Bafana coach.
Domingo has been blaming the media for putting pressure on him and the team for some time now. The Test series loss to England was down to the fourth estate, apparently.
This week he didn’t know whom to blame for the World T20 debacle, though. He wasn’t even sure why they had been knocked out. He contradicted himself when talking about the bowling.
Then he had a dip at a journalist on Tuesday, a little snarl as the presser broke up, like a sneaky punch on the bell. As a former Springbok coach may want to remind him, he’s picking a fight he cannot win with a person and a media not responsible for his failings.
The Star