Time to change SA Sports Investment?

Subject: Time to change SA Sports Investment?
From: Karabo Phasha
Date: 17 Aug 2016

South African football is one sport that is admired, loved, and worshipped by many, one might say predominantly loved by people of colour.

And as a result, millions and millions of rands have been pumped into this sport that we all dearly love. But, it begs a question, are we really doing justice by pumping millions of rands into a sport that has not achieved continental success? Let alone international success?

Sure, the Men's Senior National team, affectionately known as Bafana Bafana have won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1996 on home soil, and it remains the only trophy we have to show for it. Mind you that is two decades ago.

In that time, South Africa have won the Rugby World Cup twice, Caster Semenya has won at the Olympics, Wayne van Niekerk has broken a long-standing record at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the Canoe team have also won at the Olympics, blade-runner Oscar Pistorius and Chad le Cloes has also won at the Olympics. We have had countless success in other sports that receive minimal coverage and funds.

Is it not the time to invest more into other sports?

I watched in so much sadness when our 2016 Olympic Team arrived in Rio De Janeiro wearing tracksuits while other nations arrived in slim-fit, well-tailored suits.

At one stage, we had some of our athletes not having sponsors to go and compete at this highest sports event. Our very own athlets not having proper equipment for them to use and to compete with, while our footballers have everything at their disposal but yet achieve minimal or next to nothing in terms of success on the international stage.

I call upon the South African Investors and Corporate to invest in other sports such as track running, swimming, netball, basketball, boxing and others - at least we are guaranteed success on that front.

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