Besieged South African Rugby Union (Saru) president Brian van Rooyen lashed out on Wednesday at vice-president Mike Stofile and president’s council member Oregan Hoskins for what he termed ”wild pronouncements”.
Van Rooyen’s hastily convened press conference on Wednesday afternoon proved to be nothing more than a show of defiance by the beleaguered rugby boss, who took two of his fiercest critics to task.
When Van Rooyen called for the press conference, just hours before its scheduled start, speculation abounded that the under-fire Saru president was about to quit.
However, instead of announcing his resignation, Van Rooyen stood firm and called for special elections to take place at the earliest possible date. Van Rooyen is clearly hoping that the results of that election will vindicate his current position.
”Mike Stofile, Oregan Hoskins and Sascoc [the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee] have been making wild pronouncements about myself and SA Rugby,” Van Rooyen said at his offices on Wednesday.
”There is no chaos and I need to correct the false impression of chaos in SA Rugby,” he stated.
”I have tried to refrain from the public spat regarding the administration of the game. I would prefer for this to take place behind closed doors. Instead, I have been attacked and vilified in the media daily [by, among others, Stofile and Hoskins].”
Sascoc, too, came in for a barrage of criticism by Van Rooyen.
According to Van Rooyen, SA Rugby is not even a member of the newly formed sports umbrella body. Indeed, Sascoc has yet to be properly acknowledged by the International Olympic Committee, while major South African sports such as cricket, soccer, athletics and swimming have not signed up.
”I’m disappointed in Sascoc. Sascoc is attempting to interfere in an organisation it has no control over,” explained Van Rooyen.
Van Rooyen said that the ongoing saga is damaging to the image of SA Rugby and threatens the Rugby World Cup 2011 bid.
It also seems to have taken its toll on the man himself.
”I have been criticised for being autocratic, but I’d rather be criticised for that than for doing nothing and achieving nothing.”
Van Rooyen admitted to coming close to resigning, as the whole shambles is having a profound effect on his personal life.
”I have come close [to resigning],” he admitted, ”but I believe we achieved well as an organisation. It’s in the hands of the presidents.”
A president’s council meeting is pencilled in for Friday September 9, at which a date for the special annual general meeting is expected to be set.
According to the Saru constitution, such a meeting can take place in 21 days. Should the members of the president’s council so wish, the date could be brought forward. — Sapa