From Mbulelo Mabizela’s distinct lack of humility to Pedrie Wannenburg’s admission that he has a taste for the high life — it’s the return of the quotes of the week.
“I don’t want to sound like I’m bragging but I’m better than these players.” — Mbulelo Mabizela won’t win any friends in the national team set-up with his assessment of the Bafana Bafana defenders.
“My World Cup dream appears to have gone up in smoke. I am down but definitely not out. Warriors know that when they go to war, there will be casualties.” — Benson Mhlongo remains upbeat despite a potentially career-threatening injury.
“When I look at the averages and the strike-rates for India in the last 12 months, I don’t see two champion bowlers. In fact, I am struggling to find one champion bowler in that line-up. They’ve got some good bowlers. Sure, they have got a very good batting line-up, but the bowling is really not good enough to see them win consistently all around the world.” — Australian legend turned commentator Ian Chappell plays down India’s chances of maintaining their top spot in the world Test rankings.
“We have had a meeting, that’s no secret, and we’ll have a look how it pans out. I always say you can take grass off but you can’t put it back on. We’ll probably make our final shout on Wednesday in terms of what we need once we know the weather forecast. We’ve got to go for it, we don’t have an option.” — Proteas coach Mickey Arthur admits meeting with the groundsman at the Wanderers ahead of the final Test against England.
“I am one of those who carried the injured players into the hospital, that is when I realised what was really going on. All the players — everyone was crying, calling their mums, crying on the phone, saying their last words because they thought they’d be dead.” — Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor tells the story of the machine-gun attack on the team’s bus as they headed to the Africa Cup of Nations.
“Through this accident we have learned a lesson and we want to assure the world that South Africa is 100% ready for the World Cup.” — South African Police Commissioner Bheki Cele makes it clear that the shooting will have no effect on security for the World Cup.
“They are disqualified. This group [B] is a three-team tournament.” — A Confederation of African Football official after the Togo team requested a three-day mourning period away from the tournament.
“The government is going to punish rugby. We are going to charge SA Rugby for fielding a foreign national without proper requirements. The portfolio committee has inquired as to why the Beast is still playing [for the Springboks] if he is a foreign national. If this is the case, then it is a contravention of the laws.” — Butana Komphela, the National Assembly sports committee chairperson, keeps up with his vendetta against SA Rugby.
“He has already qualified to play for South Africa, but he does not yet have a passport and we don’t want to end up in a similar situation as SA Rugby when questions were asked about Beast Mtawarira.” — Cricket SA chief executive Khaya Majola wants to avoid Komphela’s wrath by making sure all his ducks are in a row before calling up Pakistan-born Imraan Tahir to the national squad.
“The cocaine and ecstasy go hand-in-hand with the drinking. If you drink too much and the drugs are there, then you give into temptation.” — Blue Bulls rugby star Pedrie Wannenburg lifts the lid on his occasional drug taking.