Everyone knows it. Everyone thinks it but then again if we raise our voice, it’s considered carreer suicide. I am refering to how Political interference can ruin this country and how politicians can get away with anything. When a foreigner looks at our country, they see corruption, murder, rape and Aids but what they don’t see is the beautiful things in this country, Table Mountain, great weather, the Proteas and the Springboks. Wyclef Jean, member of The Fugees once made a song, “If I was President” and this post reflects on what he means by the song. Here is what I would do, if I was president.

1. Remove the Protea from the Springbok Jersey and bestow the Bok to it’s former glory:

I must concede and say that when they first mentioned removing the emblem from the shirt, I was seeing red. Some still believe that the Bok is a emblem that relates to the old regime when in fact it is this emblem that unified a nation twice, in 1995 and 2007. The shirt don’t look that bad at all but I would still prefer it boasting in it’s former glory.

2. Fire Leonard Chuene:

If I had to lie about something as significant as a gender test and still manage to keep my job then my head must be far up somebody’s behind. Fact is that Leonard is a true mamparra and does not have Athletics SA’s best interest at heart. Rather give the job to somebody that is capable of doing a proper job and getting our athletes to perform better then they are.

3.Make Louis Luyt president of SARU

This will have many either shouting for joy or screaming to rip my head off. I will say this once again, Mr Luyt knew how to run a union and he stood up for his players. Eventhough I am not a Lions supporter, I will say that he can rebuild the union to it’s former glory.

4. Hire a proper coach for Bafana:

Now this is a no brainer. Clearly SAFA was out of their minds by hiring Parreira in the first place but his successor is even more of a nimwit then anything else. How can you coach a team when you can’t speak English? Get somebody with proper experience and keep that person for a minimum of 3 years. Choose oversees based players because they play in tougher competitions then the locals here at home. And don’t pay the guy a fortune…

5. Remove the ANC Sport Portfolio:

Why brand a guy like Charl Langeveldt or Solly Tshibilika as a Quota? Is it so they can recognize which ones is black, white or pink? Quota is a nasty word and should be put with the words Poe&, Ka&&^% en Da*&^

Then also remove the Stofile Brothers, with Frolick and Komphela from any powerfull positions they might have and choose people with common sense, with a love for sport and people that will enchance sport in this country.

6. Banish the corrupt:

This implies to everyone sitting in Parliament. It pains me to see a Premier driving around in a R600k car, live in a R3m house, enjoying all the lavishes of Political life while so many is dying of hunger or is victims of crimes.

All of this excludes basic Presidential duties but from a sporting front this is the main six today. It is said that there is a reason why South Africa has different departments and different procedures but why have them when they are not performing their duties? We elect them and they waste our Tax Payers money on holidays, cars and houses, private education for their children and shopping sprees in Dubai and Hong Kong. Offcourse you can’t remove the chokers tag from the Proteas and eventhough I love that team, you can’t help but get frustrated at their complacency at times.

So if you are in I will stand in 2014, REM for President!!

I have emphasised the point that South Africa has depth that no other team in the world has. We can proudly now say that we are the best in the world. The only little detail that bother’s me at this stage is the fact that the AB’s and Australian’s are busy building a team for 2011. We on the other hand have a steady team, one that at that time, if injury does not prevail, would have the world of experience between them. The good thing about this is the fact that guys like Ruan Pienaar, Pierre Spies, Chilliboy, Bismark, Frans Steyn, Morne Steyn, JP and Habana will then be in the prime of their carreers.

So what is there to worry about? Only the fact that we are peaking? Nope, complacency. If we go abroad in a months time, we must go full strenght. I believe that PDV has it spot on when he says that we have not reached our peak yet. We still have a long way to go but I believe that we can be the first team to sucessfully defend our title as World Champions. This however might be a difficult task considering the fact that the AB’s by then will be a stronger unit. The only thing that can let them down in their own backyard might just be some French Flair. Recently comments have been raised and suggested that Johnny Wilkinson is the greatest flyhalf in the world, and this comment was started by a Pom that has no respect for South Africans at all.

To be frank with you, I will say that Dan Carter is currently the best flyhalf in World Rugby. He has everything and up to date injuries has not let him down, unlike Sir Johnny who is more injury prone then a kid. In John Smit we have one of the greatest captains to ever embrace the game, in Heinrich Brussouw a definate candidate for player of the year, Fourie Du Preez, the best scrumhalf in the world, Morne Steyn, capable and dependable boot, Bryan Habana, one of the hardest working wings in world rugby and Frans Steyn, the monster with the monster boot. Southern Hemisphere rugby has always lifted rugby union to the next level. Jonah Lomu absolutely destroyed England in 95, Andre Joubert played with a broken hand in a Semi Final, Tana Umaga showed the world the Kapa O Pang in fierce rivalry and Jannie Du Beer kicked a record 5 drop goals against the Pommies in 2003. So in short it feels like our Northern Hemishpere counterparts has been following us all along.

To be fair to them they did deliver some brilliant players, but in those players, we discovered some with very similar attributes:

Gareth Edwards, probably the greatest scrumhalf of his time had a counterpart in Joost V/D Westhuizen, Serge Blanc had Andre Joubert, the Rolls Royce of Fullbacks, Neil Jenkins had Joel Stransky and many many more. The depth in this country is so massive that you can actually have three players for each position(taking into account that you consider overseas based players), so here is a list of Springboks or 3:

15. Frans Steyn/Stefan Terreblanche/Zane Kirchner

14.JP Pietersen/O Ndungane/B Russell

13. Jacque Fourie/Adi Jacobs/J Pretoruis

12.Jean De Villiers/Brad Barrit/R Ebersohn

11.Bryan Habana/J Nokwe/A Ndungane

10.Morne Steyn/J.L Potgieter/D Hougaard

9. F Du Preez/Ruan Pienaar/Jarno Vermaak

8. P Spies/R Kankowski/E Joubert

7. Juan Smit/Jean Deyzel/K Daniel

6.H Brussouw/S Burger/J Botes

5.V Matfield/J Muller/A Bekker

4.B Botha/S Sykes/G Britz

3.John Smit/D Carstens/CJ van der Linde

2.B Du Plessis/W Wepener/G Burden

1.Beast/G steenkamp/BJ Botha

We can brag and say that Southern Hemisphere rugby had to adapt to the rules the idiots at the IRB make. We can proudly say that out of 6 World Cups we have bought home 5, the Tri Nations and the Super 14(both soon to be expanded) is known as the toughest competitions on earth, The Southern Hemisphere has more teams in the top 6 ranked Test Playing teams in the world, World Champs in 7s and 15 a side, pacesetters, match winners and real hero’s. In short at the end of the day rugby in the Southern Hemisphere despite the controversy wins!

It’s strange posting on a Saturday, but since I had nothing to do I’d think a preview of the weekends top attractions for me would do just fine. We got some great games on in rugby and soccer so here goes:

Boland Cavaliers vs Vodacom Blue Bulls:

A normally though Boland against a near full strenght BB’s outfit in the heart of Wellington. Still feel that Boland is in need of money which should make this a walk in the park for the men of Pretoria. There should be a interesting dual to watch, Danre Gerber against Wynand Olivier in the midfield.

My prediction: Blue Bulls by 27

Griquas vs Golden Lions:

Though to call a winner here. Both teams would like to keep their Semi Final hopes alive and with the Bulls at near full strenght, both must fight it out for the fourth spot. Will go with the home team, as the Lions has shown no room of improvement in the last year, even after Jake White and h is winning ways crew sacked Loffie.

My Prediction: Wildeklawers by 9

Sharks vs Cheetahs:

The game of the weekend without a doubt. Cheetahs, after a shaky start got things working for them and after a good run of 6 winning games in a row, I unfortunately see that streak coming to a end. The Sharks with 8 of the 11 Springboks in the match 22 will have to much fire power from the bench. Will make for a interesting match up with Hennie Danniller against the ever steady Stefan Terreblanche and Juan Martin Hernandez against talented Jacques Louis Potgieter.

My Prediction: Sharks by 11

The last Tri Nations encounter takes place with the Ausies taking on the AB’s. Dead rubber game but a lot of pride still on the line. Feels good to watch a game knowing that we have conquered and won the trophy. Will 5 changes to the All Blacks prove different? Only time will tell!

My Prediction: All Blacks by 6

The English Premier League has some good games this weekend but here my top 3:

Man United vs Man City:

City will be without Adebayor, Robinho and probably Tevez for this game, and it’s very difficult to attack United and try to take the game to them when you’ve got players like that missing.

will be tight, but Fergie made five changes for the Champions League game the other night and he’s rested a few players. So I think United have got enough to win it.

Prediction: 2-1

West Ham vs Liverpool

It’s been a topsy-turvy start for West Ham, which is odd because for the majority of Gianfranco Zola’s reign they’ve had a level of consistency which they hadn’t had for a while.

After a couple of hiccups, Liverpool have started to pick themselves up, but I think it’ll be quite tight. West Ham are good at home as long as they’ve not got too many injuries.

Prediction: 1-1

Chelsea vs Spurs

By Sunday evening Tottenham will have an idea what’s in store for them this season. They will have to go to Stamford Bridge carrying an attacking threat but also get the balance of the team right.

That’s hard to judge when you haven’t got the ball, and against Chelsea they’re playing against an outstanding team. They’re all top-class internationals and they’ve not lost a game under Carlo Ancelotti.

Prediction: 2-1

Enjoy the weekend folks!

The day is Saturday, 12 September 2009. I am present in Waikato in the officials suite. Duties are set to commence at 9h30 CAT. Who thought that watching a game of rugby for 80 minutes and looking for any signs of foul play could be so rewarding financially? The Queen must have deep pockets to fork out so much money for my services, heck this would make Hansie’s bookie proud.

Singing of National Anthems: The girlie singing South Africa’s anthem is kinda cute. Wonder if she will be into a middle aged Pompey? I think South Africa has the longest and most complicated National Anthems, sung in more then 2 languages….geez no wonder they can only play for 60 minutes.

Haka Time! Bollocks, why do they do the Traditional Haka? Would have loved to see them sliting their throats!

Kick Off: Yada Yada Yada.

This game is boring. Let me change channels quick, can’t miss the last episode of Desparate Housewives. Do you know how difficult it is for a Englishman to keep concentrating on a screen for 80 minutes? Ooh there Rococoko takes out Habana in the air. Should I? Nah that’s not so bad, I mean Habana didn’t break anything so Joe can play next week.

That Francios Steyn has a massive boot. Need to find something to site him on…..he plays well and we can’t afford to have him controlling the game. Darn he is playing flawless, time to focus on someone else. Schalk??? Won’t be fair. Sited him not to long ago, got paid and got laid.

Half Time: Time to check on my Facebook profile. Surely the queen will be looking for answers. If she wasn’t that old, and had a decent dental plan I would have woo’d her but you can’t have everything and definitely not have your bread buttered on both sides.

Second half: Jean De Villiers intercepts. Good try but not good for my bosses. All Black attacks, Nonu carries the ball, passes out, tackled by Jacque Fourie. Hard tackle (good one if I may add). Would be interesting (phone rings) to see if the AB’s can come from behind.

SO: Hello

Caller: Can you tell me whether you just wasting my time?

SO: Who is this? What are you refering to?

Caller: Are we watching the same game? This is the Queen you twat!

SO: Oh sorry your Royalness, I didn’t realise that you were watching.

Queen: Offcourse I should watch. I need to know who is coming at the end of the year so we can beat

These bloody Springboks. No way are they beating my team again.

SO: I understand mam, so you want me to site somebody?

Queen: Anybody, I don’t bloody care. Get it done or your English Citizenship is gone with it and you can go stay in some third world country teaching children proper English! Are we understood?

SO: Yes Your Majesty, I will see to that now.

***Caller hangs up****

So here is my official report for New Zealand vs South Africa 12 September 2009:

It’s strange how things turn around. I mean look at South Africa a few years ago with regards to sport. Things went up and down and then in 2007 it changed. Call it what you may but the Springboks are the cornerstone of this country’s sport. Since the World Cup win over England, a defeat the pompies still can’t swallow, SA sport has gone from strenght to strength.

Suddenly our Rugby side has won our 2nd World Cup, defeated the BIL’s 2-1, won a Tri Nations and is currently ranked the number one Test side in the world. Our “Blitsbokkies” was crowned this year’s Sevens Champions and will start on a defence of their title real soon. Our Proteas defeated England in Test, defeated Australia at home and away and is also currently the Top ranked side in Test and Odi’s. We have two 800metre World Champions in our mist and we are hosting the Soccer World cup in less then a year.

What makes all of this special is the fact that it leaves a sour taste in the mouths of our enemies and counterparts. Some can’t stand the fact that Francios Steyn can kick 70metre Penalties or that Victor and Bakkies is the best lock pairing in the world if not the greatest. Some can’t comprehend that we might have the best loose trio in the world and the best find of the season in Heinrich Brussouw or the fact that we have such a depth of talent at our disposal that it makes PDV’s job harder. We can also boast in saying that Paul Treu has taken a young developing team to the World Stage and turned them into Champions and that JP Duminy set Australia on fire recently. In Dale Steyn we trust to deliver 150kmh balls at opponents and that we as a nation support Caster Sumenya and that should she run again, she will break world records.

To be the envy of everyone else is what makes victory so sweet. To all the opponents to come, beware of the big green machine. We won’t always win, and can’t win everything but atleast we can have the knowledge of knowing that we are the best. As a major fan of SA Sport’s I am satisfied with this weekend’s results. Even the game between the Sharks and Bulls on Loftus was one to remember eventhough combined they have over 20 Springboks missing it certainly was a entertaining game and showed why the Currie Cup is held in such high regard. It’s also good to know that eventhough many of our players chose the Sterling over the rand that they can contribute hugely to rugby in a Dull and Boring Northern Hemisphere.

Eventhough there seems to be controversy surrounding siting commisions and players being fined, the world seems a bit better when it’s GREEN!!