Johannesburg - An on-form "lean and mean" South African team of 163 at the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 50 days time stand a good chance of improving on their haul of 36 medals which earned them sixth on the medals table in Kuala Lumpur four years ago.
Athletes who made the team overcame tough selection criteria in which they had to be rated among the top three in the Commonwealth.
"This stands us in good stead in Manchester," said SA Commonwealth Games Association chairperson Gideon Sam at the official announcement of the team at SABC in Auckland Park on Wednesday. "We must at least try and retain our position of sixth on the medals table from Kuala Lumpur."
Sam, who is also chairperson of the SA Sports Commission, said that the shortfall of funding from sponsors (approximately R2-million) would be made up by Government.
In 1998, the team that went to Kuala Lumpur was 285-strong and returned with nine gold, 11 silver and 14 bronze medals. On form, the 2002 team could return with about 45 medals.
The team to Manchester comprises 163 athletes, 49 officials and 21 general team management members bringing the total contingent to 233. South Africa will compete in 14 of the 17 sports codes and men's hockey make a happy return to the fold after being left out of the Sydney Olympics under controversial circumstances.
The breakdown of athletes are aquatics (21), athletics (34), boxing (9), Cycling (11), Gymnastics (5), Judo (7), Lawn Bowls (18), Shooting (17), triathlon (2), wrestling (3), hockey men (20), hockey women (21), netball (16), rugby sevens (14) and elite athletes with disability (13).
"Our selection process has been very strict," said Sam. "It has focused on choosing athletes who will deliver as many medals as possible. We cannot afford to take along any athlete or code that does not meet the criteria, which is different to the method we adopted in previous Games."
Badminton, squash and weightlifting failed to meet the criteria.
World women's high jump champion Hestrie Cloete will defend her Commonwealth gold medal as will gymnast Simon Hutcheon in the vault.
In cycling, Robert Hunter, who will join the team after racing in the Tour de France, spearheads a strong road team that includes David George, Malcolm Lange, Daniel Spence and Nicholas White. JP van Zyl will challenge for medals in the sprints, the points race and the 20km scratch race, while Garen Bloch is in with a chance in the 1000m time trial.
In athletics Frantz Kruger will be out to improve on his silver in the discus at Kuala Lumpur, as will Hezekiel Sepeng with his silver in the 800m where he has run second-fiddle to Mbulauni Mulaudzi this season.
Jacques Freitag is a strong favourite in the men's high jump and Hendrik Mokganyetsi has returned from injury to prop up SA's 4x400m track relay team with Marcus la Grange, Jopie van Oudsthoorn and Arnaud Malherbe.
"Team SA is quite star-studded with names that spring to mind like Hestrie Cloete, Ryk Neethling, Jacques Freitag, Morne Nagel, Hezekiel Sepeng, Hendrik Mokganyetsi, Phumzile Mathyila, Malcolm Lange, David George, Lorna Trigwell, Robbie Hunter, Frantz Kruger and Gaffie du Toit amongst many others," said Sam.
"All our team sports, namely hockey, netball and rugby sevens are African Champs and will not only be representing South Africa, but the African continent."
Sam said that Sarah Poewe, who is in Germany and looking to settle there, will swim for Team SA and will be released after the Games.
Banele Sindani, CEO of Athletics SA, was named as Chef de Mission.
South African Commonwealth Games Team
Aquatics
Code Manager Ursula Barends
Coaches
1 Graham Hill
2 Dean Price
3 Karoly von Toros
Coach: Synchronised Swimming
4 Elena Markotch
Scientist
5 Stephen Ball
Athletes (Swimming):
1 Renate du Plessis 4 x 100m medley relay
2 Natalie du Toit 50m/100m free
3 Lyndon Ferns 4x100m free relay; 4x100m medley relay
4 Scott Field 50m/100m free
5 Nicholas Folker 4x100m free relay
6 Ebert Kleynhans 50m/100m free
7 Amanda Loots 100m/200m fly; 4x100m medley relay
8 Helene Muller 50m/100m/200m free; 4x100m medley relay
9 Ryk Neethling 4x100m free relay; 4x100m medley relay
10 Hendrik Odendaal 4x100m free relay; 4x100m medley relay
11 Terence Parkin 50m/100m/200m breast; 400m IM
12 Brett Petersen 50m/100m breast
13 Sarah Poewe 50m/100m/200m breast; 4x100m medley relay
14 Roland Schoeman 50m/100m free; 50m fly
15 Theo Verster 4x100m medley relay
16 Charlene Wittstock 4x100m medley relay
17 Gerhard Zandberg 50m back; 4x100m meldey relay
Athlete (Synchronised Swimming)
1 Judi van Niekerk solo
Athletics
Code Managers
Wilfred Danield
Motlatsi Keikabile
Coaches
1 Marc Labuschagne
2 Martin Marx
3 Carl Preller
4 JP van der Merwe
Athletes:
1 Veronica Abrahamse Shot put
2 Josiaah Bembe Marathon
3 Shaun Bownes 110m Hurdles
4 Okkert Brits Pole Vault
5 Hestrie Cloete High Jump
6 Corne du Plessis 4x100m relay
7 Surita Febbraio 400m Hurdles
8 Rory Field 100m
9 Makhosonke Fika Marathon
10 Jacques Freitag High Jump
11 Paul Gorries 4x400m relay
12 Llewelyn Herbert 400m Hurdles
13 Leigh Julius 4x100m relay
14 Frantz Kruger Discus
15 Marcus la Grange 4x400m relay
16 Arnaud Malherbe 4x400m relay
17 Joseph Maqala Marathon
18 Hendrick Mokganyetsi 4x400m relay
19 Mbulaeni Mulaudzi 800m
20 Alwyn Myburgh 400m Hurdles
21 Morne Nagel 100m/200m
22 Elizna Naude Discus
23 Lee-Roy Newton 4x100m relay
24 Mathew Quin 4x100m relay
25 Janus Robberts Shot put
26 Hezekial Sepeng 800m
27 Heidi Seyerling 400m Hurdles
28 Joepie Van Oudtshoorn 4x400m relay
29 Drienkie van Wyk Shot put
Boxing
Code Manager
Johan Barnard
Coach
Andile Mofu
Assistant Coach
Dingaan Mahlasela
Athletes
1 Ludumo Galada Bantamweight
2 Phumzile Mathyila Light Flyweight
3 Khotso Motau Light Middleweight
4 Nzimeni Msutu Flyweight
5 Daniel Venter Light Heavy-weight
6 Kwanele Zulu Welterweight
Cycling
Code Manager Bart Harmse
Coach Neil Crosthwaite
Athletes
1 Garen Bloch Track
2 Ryan Cox Road
3 Dean Edwards Track
4 David George Road; Time trial
5 Robert Hunter Road; Time trial
6 Malcolm Lange Road
7 Daniel Spence Road
8 Jean-Pierre van Zyl Track
9 Nicholas White Road
Gymnastics
Code Manager/Coach
Gheorghe Hristov
Athletes
1 Christian Brezeanu
2 Simon Hucheon
3 Dewald Laubscher
4 Athol Myhill
5 Julian Witbooi
Men's Hockey
Code Manager
Wendell Domingo
Coach
Rob Pullen
Assistant Coach
Warren Wallace
Technician
Nick Boden
Athletes
1 Clyde Abrahams
2 Marvin Bam
3 Kevin Chree
4 Gregg Clark
5 Mike Cullen
6 Emile Smith
7 Wayne Denne
8 Denzil Dolley
9 Steven Evans
10 Craig Fulton
11 Chris Hibbert
12 Craig Jackson
13 Bruce Jacobs
14 Justin King
15 Greg Nicol
16 David Staniforth
Women's Hockey
Code Manager
Gadijah Ben
Coach
Roz Howell
Assistant Coach
Louanne Rivett
Technician
Jenny King
Technician
Ivan Bolton
Athletes
1 Kerry Bee
2 Caroline Birt
3 Lindsay Carlisle
4 Pietie Coetzee
5 Grazjyna Engelbrecht
6 Natalie Haynes
7 Jonkhe Koornhof
8 Anli Kotze
9 Marsha Merescia
10 Sophie Mayer
11 Luntu Ntloko
12 Bronwyn Ross
13 Carina van Zijl
14 Melinda Vos
15 Susan Wessels
16 Jennifer Wilson
Judo
Code Manager/Coach
Lorraine Job
Coach
Andrei Blady
Athletes
1 Henriette Bezuidenhout U63kg
2 Francois French U81kg
3 Justin Goosen 90+kg
4 Bulelani Makhoba U60kg
5 Elize Visser 78+kg
Lawn Bowls
Code Manager
Piet Breitenbach
Manager: Men
Lewis Klopper
Manager: Women
Marge Williams
Manager: EAD
Ruan van Zyl
Coach
Simon Botha
EAD Director
Dave Buller
Athletes
1 Duane Abrahams Fours
2 Shaun Addinall Pairs
3 Gerry Baker Pairs
4 Deidre Buller Singles
5 Neil Burkett Fours
6 Kevin Campbell Fours
7 Ellen Cawker Pairs
8 Bobby Donnelly Singles
9 Theuns Fraser Fours
10 Jill Hackland Pairs
11 Helen Jansen Fours
12 Rika Lynn Fours
13 Jean Moodaley Fours
14 Brian Rae Trips
15 Freddie Sterrenberg Trips
16 Annette Terry Fours
17 Glynn Thompson Trips
18 Lorna Trigwell Singles
Netball
Code Manager
Noluntu Dyubhele
Coach
Louise du Plessis
Assistant Coach
Dudu Masane
Technician
Stefanie Uys
Athletes
1 Bronwyn Bock
2 Wanda Geldenhuis
3 Sindisiwe Gumede
4 Adele Jonker
5 Martha Machoga
6 Martha Mosoahle
7 Nomthandazo Ntlama
8 Alicia Senekal
9 Tanya Pelcher
10 Mable van der Vyver
11 Shani Welthagen
12 Liezel Wium
Rugby 7's
Code Manager
Rob Louw
Coach
Chester Williams
Athletes
1 Jean de Villiers
2 Gaffie du Toit
3 Ian Fihlani
4 Eugene Francis
5 Dale Heidtmann
6 Jorrie Muller
7 Anton Pitout
8 Neil Powell
9 Marius Schoeman
10 Egon Seconds
11 Paul Treu
12 Wayne van Heerden
Shooting
Code Manager
Jake van der Wilden
Coach
Deon Burger
Mike Potgieter
Stanley Scheepers
Andre Wessels
Athletes
1 Jacqui Bartleman Small-bore rifle
2 Peter Bramley Full bore
3 Paul Clinton Air rifle
4 David Dodds Full bore
5 Jaco Henn Small-bore rifle
6 Alan McDonald Pistol
7 Donne Potgieter Small-bore rifle
8 Riaan Swemmer Air rifle
9 Michael Thiele Small-bore rifle
10 Esmarie van Reenen Pistol
11 Francois van Tonder Pistol
12 Frikkie van Tonder Pistol
Table Tennis
Code Manager
Margaret Luckay
Athletes
1 Alet Moll
2 Rosabelle Riese
Triathlon
Code Manager
Dezroy Poole
Athlete
1 Trudi Barnes
Wrestling
Code Manager
Willem Putter
Athletes
1 Bennie Labuschagne
2 Shaun Williams
General Team Management:
Chef de Mission
Banele Sindani
General Manager
Hugo Olivier
Manager: Operations & Logistics
Mary-Jane van Oerle
Manager: Athlete Services
Fiona Coward
Manager: Protocol
Tubby Reddy
Chief Medical Officer
Ismail Jakoet
Headquarters Staff:
Adminstration
Isabel Azevedo-Burton
Michelle Perry
Athlete Services
Nthebe Molope
PR
Jodi-Ann Jones
Bronwyn Badenhorst
Technology
Suna Vermeulen
Heinrich van der Merwe
Team Attache
Sello Jelle
Medical:
Chief Physiotherapist
Tumelo Komane
Doctor
Christa Janse Van Rensburg
Harold Adams
Physiotherapist
Debbie Hill
Shamim Khan
Jacqui McCord-Uys
Bafana Sihlali
Neil Viranna
- Sapa