/ 26 October 2011

Have the sporting gods gone mad?

New Zealand win the Rugby World Cup, Man City thump Man United, Chiefs lose to Stars and the Lions are in the Currie Cup final — what has happened to the world of sport?

As with gambling, when it comes to sport the old saying rings true: Sometimes you’re up; sometimes you’re down. But it would seem that someone has put a strange elixir in the sporting Kool-Aid this past week.

First, we had those perennial chokers of international rugby, New Zealand, scoring their first triumph in a Rugby World Cup final in 24 years.

The first and only other time they hoisted the William Webb Ellis trophy in 1987 was followed by two decades of underachievement in the rugby world’s biggest spectacle.

And while it may have helped the Bokke in 1995, it has been rather wretched to see a deserving team crash and burn as often as the All Blacks have done.

I still find it a travesty that the likes of Jonah Lomu has never worn a World Cup winner’s medal around his neck.

But while the All Blacks might have deserved it, it’s still odd to think of them as official world champs.

Man down
In the world of football, the unthinkable happened in Manchester on Sunday.

After decades of playing second fiddle to their rich cousins on the other side of town, Manchester City handed Manchester United a 6-1 thumping that will sting for many a year to come.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson called it: “The worst defeat in my time here.”

It must have gone down like razor blades in a cocktail, as Fergie has been with the club since 1985.

Now, while I profess myself to be a die-hard fan of the Red Devils, I must concede the Sky Blues were the better side on the day.

Still, it seems bizarre that over a period of a few years the tables can be turned so drastically. Just goes to show what a bit of money and a cocky manager in Roberto Mancini will do for you.

Come again, chief?
Coming back home, Kaizer Chiefs added to the week of baffling sports results by losing to Platinum Stars 2-1 in the Telkom Knockout Challenge.

While not necessarily the biggest upset in recent times, you’d be hard pressed to find a footballing fan — neutral or Amakhosi-biased — that would bet on a Stars victory.

Chiefs have had their fair share of problems at a dressing room level as of late, but if coach Vladimir Vermozovic best dust off his CV if he continues to deliver results of this sort.

Perhaps things will return to normal for one of the Soweto giants now that Itumeleng Khune has been named captain after Jimmy Tau’s apparent resignation/demotion.

Finally, we can talk about that which has me truly dumbfounded: the Golden Lions have a real chance of winning the Currie Cup.

I have previously revealed my pain as a Lions’ fan who has watched his team stumble from catastrophe to calamity over the years.

But! After winning a hard-fought semifinal against Western Province this past weekend, the Lions face the Sharks on Saturday — their first final since 2007.

It won’t be easy: the Sharks inspire fear and dread in their opponents — especially in a final.

Nevertheless, when kick-off arrives on Saturday, I hope you’ll join me in a silent appeal to the heavens, and — because the team (and their fans) need a Currie Cup triumph more than most politicians need a lifestyle audit — pray that the gods of sport have one last little bit of lunacy left over for the Lions.