ANDY COLQUHOUN, Cape Town | Friday 11.15am.
A BLACK sports administrator who threatened the boycott of South African rugby tours two years ago has been appointed manager of the Springboks for the two-Test series against England and one-off match against Canada this month.
Gideon Sam, vice-president of South Africa’s National Sports Council (NSC), will carry the title of manager, although the role has been re-defined to be strictly political rather than logistical.
The role was previously a full time position but Sam will join the team only shortly before each Test.
“He will act more as a representative of SARFU (South African Rugby Football Union) than as a manager,” said Sarfu chief executive Rian Oberholzer.
“He will fulfil the role he held as Chef de Mission for the South African team at the Commonwealth Games and All Africa Games.”
In May 1998 Sam was in the forefront of the NSC committee which called for the resignation of former SARFU president Louis Luyt and his entire executive.
Sam warned that the Irish and Welsh rugby unions, who were on the point of arriving on tour in South Africa, would be asked not to tour if the SARFU executive did not stand down.
The NSC had been angered by Sarfu’s decision to take former state president Nelson Mandela to court over his decision to establish a commission of inquiry into rugby.
“This is how things happen in life,” Sam said. “We were at the point then where we were going to show these guys that they couldn’t just do anything they liked.
“But times have changed. It’s also only fair to reward good deeds in this country when people are genuine and there’s no doubt that Sarfu are genuine in what they are trying to do.”
Sam replaces Arthob Petersen who has stepped down. — MWP
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