/ 10 May 1996

GOLF: Jon Swift

NO matter which way you cut the cake, professional golf in this country has some serious problems to address. And there is the inescapable feeling that it has been coming for a while.

It came to a head this week when the South African Professional Golfers Association threatened to withdraw its backing of the Pro Afrique Tour, an action which would effectively rule the second circuit as a non- starter.

Forget for a moment the issues involved and look at the situation which has caused the communications failure.

At the root of the problem is the false concept advanced by the PGA that the main FNB Tour and the old Winter Tour constitute a single circuit.

In reality, it all breaks down into three distinct segments: the European-sanctioned tournaments, those which used to form the backbone of the old Sunshine Tour without the European connection, backing and cash rewards, and the tournaments for the stay-at- contingent, played for lower purses in areas usually out of the urban mainstream.

True, the Order of Merit — the points-for- rands-won grading system — operates on a year-round basis, awarding points to those who play the winter section of the tour. It still doesn’t really level the playing fields.

Into this ungainly mixture was thrown the Pro Afrique Tour, backed by sporting goods giant Wilson and offering — in some instances — more attractive monetary rewards than the Winter Tour.

It was a recipe for the confrontation which has duly arrived with Wilson suspending their sponsorship of the Pro Afrique until some clarity on the issue bubbles to the surface.You can sympathise with the PGA and understand their annoyance when a cheque to cover prize monies bounced. This, say the Pro Afrique sponsors, was an administrative slip- up. One would tend to see this as fact. A company of Wilson’s stature and reputation is hardly likely to cut their own throats in the market by doing something as foolish as issuing rubber cheques on purpose.

What remains a mystery though is why both parties have seen fit to air this particular piece of dirty linen in public rather than sitting down and sorting it out behind closed doors.

The PGA now wants all prize money guaranteed up front a week in advance and a veto on any financial institution providing backing for the rival circuit.

Without taking sides, these would seem reasonable demands given the problem with payments and, should Pro Afrique become part of the overall tour as the PGA demands, given the FNB’s past and current investment.

Having two cirucits working at what looks like cross purposes would seem to lend some weight to Pro Afrique entertaining a toenadering with the PGA, especially as the body wants a bigger say in running the Pro Afrique tournaments and an assurance that there is no clash of competing tournament dates.

The body which represents this country’s professional players also wants Pro Afrique to stop using the designation “tour”. This is where you have to scratch your head. That surely is nitpicking of the type which tends to make one wonder whether the bankers or the golfers are running the game.But until the whole issue is thrashed out — and perhaps some sense returns in the form of demarcating what tournaments are really worth in the eyes of the public and sponsors — there is little to do but sit back and wait it out.

What does seem imminent though is a situation where there are no real winners … and where the players come out as losers in the long- term.

@Buccaneers are off to raid the Copperbelt

SOCCER: Andrew Muchineripi

SOUTH AFRICA and Zambia meet for the first time at club level on Saturday and the clash between Orlando Pirates and Mufulira Wanderers could produce a classic African Champions’ Cup tie.

Pirates are the defending champions after ending an 11-year North Africandominance of the leading club competition organised by the African Football Confederation (CAF).

But Mufulira, back in the big time after a 17- year absence, know that no champions have successfully defended the title since Tout Puissant Englebert of ZaÔre in 1968.

While it would be unfair to downgrade the unique achievement of Englebert, it must be judged against the fact that considerably fewer clubs entered the cup then.

Wanderers are so desperate to dethrone the kings that they have opted to stage the second-round match at the Shinde Stadium in the Copperbelt town of Mufulira instead of the Independence Stadium in Lusaka.

So what is so strange about playing at home? Well, Zambian clubs are not exactly rolling in kwacha and the stadium in the capital holds three times more spectators than that in Mufulira.

Wanderers have decided to tackle Pirates on a pitch which falls short of the standard they are used to in South Africa, and where the spectators can almost touch players sprinting down the wings.

It seems certain to be an intimidating atmosphere with about 12 000 fanatical Zambian fans (the official capacity is 10 000, but they always seem to squeeze a few more in) baying for the blood of the Buccaneers.

Not that Pirates are newcomers to this situation, having gone to Abidjan last December and defeated ASEC in front of more than 40 000 Ivorians dressed in identical yellow outfits.

They also forced a draw in Nigeria, where visiting teams do not exactly get red-carpet treatment, and most of the cup-winning squad are likely to be in action this weekend.

A notable exception is Mark Fish, who made his farewell appearance for the boys in black and white last weekend in a disappointing 0-0 draw with South Korean visitors Ilhwa Chunma in the Afro-Asian Cup.

Make no mistake, the Big Feeeeeesh will be missed. If he had travelled to Lusaka this week who knows how many bottles of the pride of Charles Glass he might have consumed during the three-hour flight north.

But come match day the mop-haired defender who loves to go a roaming would have been in the thick of the action, defending as if his life hinged on the result and attacking at every opportunity.

Guy-Roger Nzeng, brought from Gabon to replace Fish, cannot play because he was not registered, so there may be a recall for “Shoes” Lushozi, one of the heroes of Abidjan but not a regular first-team player this season.

Talking of team selection, these are difficult days for those who try to peep inside the mind of Pirates’ Russian coach Victor Bondarenko and predict his line-up.

Last year, the Buccaneers largely chose themselves with inspirational goalkeeper Williams Okpara operating behind a back four of Phiri Tsotetsi, Fish, Gavin Lane and Edward Motale.

In midfield, Brandon Silent and Helman Mkhalele played wide with captain Innocent Mncwango and John Moeti operating in the engine room where skill must be accompanied by strength.

Only in attack, where Jerry Skosana, Marc Batchelor and Bruce Ramokadi contested two positions on the team sheet, was there any degree of uncertainty.

Under Bondarenko, former Nigerian youth international Okpara remains a permanent fixture, and affords Pirates the luxury of having international-class goalkeeper Wade du Plessis warming the bench.

At the back the system and the personnel constantly alter, with Bondarenko reasoning that if the opposition have only two forwards, Pirates need only three defenders (two to mark and one to sweep).

This allows the man who does not speak much English and communicates with the squad through son Alex to add another midfielder, but Mncwango often does not make it.

Ask those who know South African football and most will tell you that Mncwango is undoubtedly among the most gifted midfielders, but a figure that appears overweight may reveal why his promise remains largely unfulfilled.

Attack poses the biggest problem, with Pirates lacking consistent penetration against Ilhwa Chunma and often being guilty of finishing which would make a schoolboy blush.

Footballers are only human (fans please note) so Ramokadi must not be dragged screaming to the stake for missing a late opportunity to put the Buccaneers in front last Saturday.

But it is surely cause for alarm that a footballer rated among the best prospects in South Africa can somehow manage to balloon the ball over the bar from inside the small box with only one defender to beat.

In Mufulira, Pirates forwards should enjoy more space as Wanderers press forward in search of the goals they hope will reduce the return match in South Africa on June 22 or 23 to a formality.

Wanderers are making their third appearance in the Champions’ Cup, reaching the semi-finals in 1977 and going out in the first round two years later after somehow squandering at home a four-goal, first-leg lead.

The class of ’96 is led by African Nations’ Cup midfielder Vincent Mutale and includes above-average players in goalkeeper Collins Mbulo, defender Allan Kamwanga and leading scorer Bilton Musonda.

Like so many regional derbies, this match could hinge on which team keeps its nerves best, and Pirates gained precious experience in this department last year from visits to Nigeria, Uganda and Ivory Coast.

While victory would be the natural first choice, if the Buccaneers can walk off the Shinde Stadium on level terms as dusk descends over the Copperbelt, they will be well-placed to reach the quarter-finals next month.