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Hoskins: I am black enough
16/03/2008 22:31 - (SA)
Morris Gilbert , Beeld
Johannesburg - If Peter de Villiers is black enough in Mike Stofile's opinion to coach the Springboks, Oregan Hoskins feels he should be considered black enough to remain president of the SA Rugby Union.
This is how Hoskins reacted on Sunday to reports that there was concern in some circles that the new Saru executive may include no representative from ethnic black communities.
Stofile is the only ethnic black in the present executive but he is unavailable for re-election as deputy president. He will oppose Hoskins at the annual general meeting and is the only black nominated for any executive position.
Hoskins feels it is unfair and inappropriate to "differentiate between shades of black when it suits you".
"I regard myself as black because I was, in the same way as Stofile, a second-class citizen and I also suffered under apartheid.
"It is interesting that Stofile refers to Peter as the first black Springbok coach but he does not want to apply the same colour rules to me.
"I have always been fully committed to transformation and I have a wonderful working relationship with the chairman of the board of SA Rugby, Mpumelelo Tshume, who is black, according to Stofile's selective definition."
Snatch at any straw
Hoskins feels it is deplorable that Stofile uses the race card as a deterrent but he believes Saru's voting members will see through it.
"It is interesting that Stofile has expressed no valid reasons for opposing me as president. He will therefore snatch at any straw to advance his case."
He referred to an audit of the union's finances that showed a deficit of R10m at the end of 2007 but said the International Rugby Board's grant of three million pounds (R48m at the present rate) was not included.
"We therefore actually have a surplus of approximately R30m."
Hoskins said he was enjoying wide support in his re-election campaign but did not want to tease the gods by starting to celebrate.
"My supporters know what I stand for and I believe logic will prevail," he said.
Hoskins is not saying which unions will support him but it has been established from other sources that he may already have enough votes to remain in the chair,
There are 45 votes. With the support of the Pumas, Blue Bulls, Leopards, Golden Lions, Griffons, Free State, Griquas and Natal he will have 24 votes for an outright majority.
Hoskins feels it is good news that the issue of the Springbok as national rugby emblem was not discussed at a congress of the sports ministry on Friday.
"All the national emblems would have been discussed but the item was removed from the agenda without any explanation.
"My information is that the sports public will now decide which emblems are acceptable and which are not," Hoskins said.
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Rugby
