A government plan to nationalize South Africa's ailing soccer team in a bid to avoid embarrassment during the 2010 World Cup has angered soccer bosses and players who warned it could backfire.
"It's going to be very difficult for clubs to release players for such a long time frame [from now to the Cup]," said Brian Sebapole, a former national player and an executive in the Professional Players Union.
"Clubs have made huge investments, paid money to get the players. The plan is experimental and highly risky and may backfire. No one will want to sacrifice his [club] salary for two years," he said.
Sports Minister Makhenkesi Stofile proposed this week that the country's top 50 players be contracted to the government for two years so that a winning team can be nurtured ahead of South Africa hosting the 2010 soccer spectacular -- the first to be held on the continent.
"We'll contract the players and tell the coach: `Here, work with them'. They won't play for their [domestic and international] clubs for two years and will be preparing only for the World Cup soccer tournament," Stofile told parliament. "We have to prevent them [the team] from embarrassing us."
Sebapole said players may well be excited to represent their national team in the first World Cup on home soil, but would need some convincing.
"Players may not want to be part of the plan if they are not assured of being featured in the first 22," he said.
The national squad, Bafana Bafana (Zulu for "boys") has had a series of bad results, including a first-round exit from the Africa Nations Cup in Ghana last month.
The team lies 71st on the ranking of world soccer body FIFA, despite acquiring the services of Brazil's 2006 World Cup-winning coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira, at a domestic record 1.8 million rand (US$227,000) a month.
Stofile said top players should be placed under government contract, paid monthly allowances and play regular practice matches against local clubs.
Sebapole said a one-year period may be more realistic for clubs to "be patriotic and release players."
Irvin Khoza, South Africa's Premier Soccer League (PSL) chairman and owner of the Orlando Pirates club, said commercial interests were at stake.
"While we agree that something needs to be done about our national team, the issue has not been made official to us.
"It is a delicate issue because it affects sponsors, broadcasters, clubs, players. There are breach [of agreement] issues," Khoza said, adding the PSL was considering proposals for Parreira to be allowed to assemble players four months before the 2010 kick-off.
"It's going to be very difficult because you actually say for example, Benni McCarthy should not be available for his club, which is paying him huge amounts of money, for two years," Jomo Cosmos club boss Jomo Sono said. "You are saying clubs ... should suffer for two years without their best players."
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping