Border rugby’s reluctance to support a motion that South African Rugby Union (Saru) president Brian van Rooyen stand down has elicited fierce condemnation from Saru vice-president Mike Stofile.
Stofile has accused Border Rugby Football Union (BRFU) president Monwabisi Yako of deliberately acting in his own interests and not that of his constituents.
Stofile this week also warned that the imminent investigation into the overall affairs of Saru will shock many.
”So many people are implicated, and not just Van Rooyen,” he said.
The motion to have Van Rooyen stand down was tabled by Dolf van Huyssteen of the Blue Bulls at Friday’s Saru president’s council meeting in Johannesburg but was not supported by BRFU president Yako.
Stofile, a former BRFU president, went as far as to say that Yako deliberately did not obtain a mandate from his executive members on the issue in order to further his own business interests.
”I am not surprised. He wants to keep his constituents in the dark. He did not obtain a mandate on purpose and will now use that as an excuse for not supporting the call for Van Rooyen to stand down.
Van Huyssteen’s motion, according to Stofile, was supported by the Sharks, Cheetahs, Pumas, Falcons, Western Province and himself.
”The fact that Border refused to support the motion means they support Van Rooyen.
”These people are crazy. They don’t care about rugby and are in it for their own benefit,” an angry Stofile said.
Yako said he was surprised at Stofile’s allegations, adding he would prefer to read the report first before responding.
”It’s difficult for me to comment now, but will respond once I read what I’m accused of,” he said.
Lack of support
Stofile admitted to being embarrassed by Border’s lack of support.
He said someone told him after the meeting that in similar situations in the past Border had always had an opinion and given direction.
Stofile said Border rugby does not belong to Yako but to its constituents.
Asked if he will still support Border rugby, Stofile said members must decide if they are for or against him.
”The affiliates must decide, not Monwabisi. He wants to keep them uninformed. That’s why he has not called any meetings. This thing has been going on now for five months, but clubs are not properly informed as to the truth.”
Stofile pointed out that Griquas representative Baby Richards has been lambasted in public twice this year for his support of Van Rooyen, and the Griqualand West Rugby Union had distanced itself from his behaviour.
Richards on Friday voted against a letter submitted by his union condemning Van Rooyen and a special general meeting will now be called to have Richards removed.
Stofile believes this has the potential to tear Griquas rugby apart. The same may well happen to Border rugby.
”It is now up to all members of Border rugby to decide who they support. If they go along with supporting Monwabiso [Yako] and Van Rooyen, I curse all of them,” Stofile said.
Border rugby acting CEO Syd Laubscher defended Yako’s stance.
”Voting can only take place at a general council meeting and as such any voting was unconstitutional.
”It was for this reason Monwabisi did not vote and he was not given a mandate to do so,” Laubscher said. — Sapa