Swimming sensation Roland Schoeman has rejected a multi-million dollar offer from the Gulf state of Qatar and opted to continue swimming for South Africa.
”After serious and thorough consideration I have decided to stand by my initial decision not to swim for Qatar. I have given instructions that the negotiations following the second approach from Qatar to swim for them should not be pursued any further,” said Schoeman through a statement read by Swimming South Africa (SSA) president Jace Naidoo in Johannesburg on Monday.
Qatar, known for offering athletes lucrative packages to become adopted citizens, had approached Schoeman earlier this year but the Pretoria swimmer declined.
Last month Qatar made another offer which would have certainly inflated Schoeman’s bank account and there were fears from SSA that Schoeman would take the offer considering how Schoeman has been in the past about the lack of financial reward in the sport.
Schoeman made it clear, though, that no amount of money would make him change his nationality and that taking the Qatar offer would have been a short term gain.
”The stability and democracy we (South Africa) have attained thus far has not been founded on pursuing short term gains. It has been based on a willingness to seek long term solutions to promote the well-being of all the people of South Africa.
I believe that this should be true for me as well. While I am significantly poorer today than I could have been, I feel tremendously blessed that it is Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika that will be played if I win a gold medal,” Schoeman’s statement read.
Naidoo praised Schoeman for his patriotism also giving an indication that Schoeman could possibly be the man to lead the South African swimming contingent to the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia next year.
”Throughout this entire saga, Roland has acted in forthright and honest manner and with integrity towards Swimming South Africa. For this he must be commended. We now look forward to building on the recent success of Athens 2004 and the World Championships this year and preparing for Commonwealth Games,” Naidoo said. – Sapa