|
Stofile attack on Boks slammed
15/02/2008 12:30 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Sport Minister Makhenkesi Stofile's attack against former Springbok players is an attempt to distract attention from government's "transgression of international sports regulations", AfriForum said on Friday.
"The unrestrained personal attack by Stofile is a transparent effort to distract attention from the fact that the government's racially driven political interference in sport is a transgression of international sports regulations," said CEO Kallie Kriel.
Stofile on Thursday sharply criticised AfriForum after a group of former Springboks, along with AfriForum, called for an end to "racial discrimination in rugby".
Stofile said they (the former players) were "ambassadors of apartheid" who had "willingly wheeled and oiled the apartheid wagon".
Stofile said he would not allow them to re-impose their political will on South Africa.
The players, in co-operation with AfriForum, met this week with the president of the SA Rugby Union (Saru), Oregan Hoskins, to voice their concerns about "political interference" in rugby.
Stofile's response in a statement was: "We regret this apparent rattling of the skeletons in the apartheid cupboard. Their gaunt eyes of injustice seem jaundiced in their interpretation of issues and in their selection of battlefields.
"Their campaigns in New Zealand, South Africa and elsewhere, especially the 1981 tour of New Zealand, caused unforgettable pain and rupture in countries of the world. It prolonged our suffering and segregation," Stofile said.
Kriel retorted: "The disrespect shown by Stofile to some of SA's greatest rugby heroes, will not change the fact that political interference and racially-driven policies in rugby not only contravene the constitution of Saru, but the regulations of the International Rugby Board (IRB) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as well," Kriel said.
Stofile's censure would not prevent AfriForum and the former Springbok players from submitting a memorandum to the IRB shortly, citing numerous examples of political interference in SA Rugby during the past few years, in contravention of the IRB's regulations.
"The number of former Springbok captains supporting AfriForum's memorandum against political interference, have since grown to eight. Divan Serfontein, Nelie Smith and Avril Malan have now added their names to those of Wynand Claassen, Hannes Marais, Theuns Stofberg, Abie Malan, and Johan Claassen. Discussions with other captains to gather their support as well, are also taking place."
He said that other well-known rugby stars such as Frik du Preez, Gerrie Germishuys, Krynauw Otto, Daan du Plessis, Richard Prentis, Ewoud Malan, Ockie Oosthuizen and Div Visser were also amongst those who were taking a stand against political interference in rugby.
"The fact that the Minister of Sport a week ago reiterated his determination to continue political interference in sport and now even launches personal attacks against those who dare to voice their concerns, leave us with no option but to seek assistance from the IRB and other international sporting bodies," Kriel said.
|
Rugby
