Stofile: Bok emblem a goldmine

2007-11-26 22:04

Cape Town - The Springbok emblem is "a goldmine" and should be retained for the South African national team, says Mike Stofile, deputy president of the SA Rugby Union.

"When I was a political activist and was denied opportunities, I saw the emblem as a white one," Stofile said in a wide-ranging interview

"The reality is that it is a (marketing) goldmine for SA rugby. However, there is no way that we can ignore the protea.

"I feel we should follow soccer's example, with our (rugby) emblem on the left side of the jersey and the protea on the right.

The present emblem is a combination of a springbok and a protea.

Stofile is also chairperson of the committee tasked to make a recommendation on the appointment of a new Springbok coach and he is regarded as a strong candidate to take over as Saru president.

The new Saru office bearers must be elected in March next year but Stofile is unwilling to confirm that he will oppose Oregan Hoskins as president.

Loaded in favour of SA Rugby

"Our election is only at the end of March. A process has to be followed and if I am nominated, I will first look to see who nominated me and ask what they want me to do," he said.

Stofile believes the new Springbok coach's contract will have to be drawn up on SA Rugby's terms.

"We will have to come up with a contract that is loaded in favour of SA Rugby; not in favour of the individual.

I don't care for autobiographies that are published later, but they should be accurate," he added.

Heyneke Meyer and Peter de Villiers are the leading candidates to succeed Jake White as Springbok coach.

Meyer coached the Bulls to the Super 14 championship this year and the Emerging Springboks, coached by De Villiers, won the Nations Cup,

De Villiers's record as coach compares favourably with that of White, who also enjoyed success at Under-21 level before being appointed as Springbok coach.

Stofile is upset about criticism that Saru did not support White strongly enough. "The presidents' council made decisions to assist Jake and most of the officials supported him," he said.

- Die Burger