Allegations of political interference in SA's world cup team is shocking and should be investigated
Allegations in Business Day and Times Live that there had been political interference with the appointment of the South African team for the semi-finals against New Zealand, is shocking and Cricket South Africa will have to provide answers to this, Adv. Anton Alberts, the FF Pus' parliamentary spokesperson on Sport said (see here and here).
According to the reports, AB de Villiers even threatened not to play in the game after Vernon Philander, who had not been in top form due to an injury was put in the team at the expense of Kyle Abbot.
Adv. Alberts said it is truly regrettable that a brilliant player such as Philander has now become the centre of an unpleasantness which is the result of the ANC government's precarious policy of quotas in sport.
"He is a young man and such an incident could have a huge influence on the future of a sportsman. But the same could be said about Abbot. Quotas are driving up and coming sport stars out of the country and destroy other's dreams and ideals.
"On provincial level there is even talk of six players of colour which have to be included in a cricket team. It is undoubtedly just a question of time before the ANC will be insisting on eight ethnic black players, just to accommodate the national demographics.
"It is beginning to get more and more difficult to see how young black and brown players could motivate themselves to aim for the top rung on the sports field if opportunities become less and less," Adv. Alberts says.
In the mean time, the FF Plus is busy finalising letters which will be sent to the most important international sporting bodies with whom South Africa has relations, as well as to the ambassadors of these countries in South Africa.
"The FF Plus wants to highlight racism in South African sport under the transparent guise of ‘quotas or targets' and wants to ask them if they at all approve of racism in sport," Adv. Alberts says.
Statement issued by Adv. Anton Alberts, Plus parliamentary leader: Sport, March 30 2015
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