Corruption rife in SA soccer claims Lovegrove

By George Byron

MILLIONAIRE soccer boss Tony Lovegrove has hit out at corruption which he claims is rife in South African soccer with referees and linesmen openly cheating to influence the outcome of crucial professional league matches.
Bay Stars owner Lovegrove, whose team narrowly missed out on the chance to represent Nelson Mandela Bay in the First Division next season, came out firing, saying the corruption needed to be exposed for the good of the game.
In an exclusive interview with Weekend Post,  Lovegrove  claimed that:

* Support staff and players are “bombarded” with offers to throw matches;

* Protesting questionable decisions will ensure match officials will be even more biased;

* There is no auditing of referees’ performances by top-level South African Football Association (Safa) officials;

* Clubs often field “illegal” players [a player who is not registered with the league, for example]; and

* Referees turn a blind eye to poor field conditions in lower leagues, if it happens to be the referee’s “preferred” team’s home ground

Lovegrove is not alone in his concern about the effects of widespread corruption in the sport with high-ranking Safa official Boya Chetty confirming  that a top-level investigation into bribery and corruption was currently  under way.
“I am a member of Safa’s protocol and security committee and we are currently investigating bribery and corruption at all levels of South African soccer,” Chetty said.
“Our findings will be released in due course.”
Lovegrove and  fellow Stars owner Yusuf Adams ploughed R3.2-million into their team last season which played in the Vodacom League.
However Lovegrove believed  the only reason the team  failed to be  promoted was because the “referees are all powerful”.
Citing the example of Stars having no fewer than 13 goals disallowed during the season, he said:   “In the Vodacom League there was absolutely no consistency when it comes to refereeing.
“This makes winning games exceptionally difficult.  The interpretation by officials of the rules is inconsistent in itself and there is no auditing from senior officials at Safa.  This ultimately translates into each ref having absolute power to dictate the outcome of games.”
Lovegrove said players and support staff were also often approached with offers to take a bribe.
“Both our players and technical staff have come to me on occasions to highlight that they have been approached to influence a game.  The owners are very rarely approached in this league, but the support staff and players are bombarded with offers to throw games.”
Lovegrove said his club had approached the regional office of Safa with their complaints, but it had not helped to eradicate the problem.
“In spite of the regional office of Safa being very sympathetic, it unfortunately does not go further.”
Lovegrove said his club had on several occasions asked Safa to address important strategic matters at a higher level to combat this issue.
However Safa Eastern Cape provincial secretary Isaac Klaas said his organisation had never received any complaints regarding the conduct of referees from Bay Stars.

This is a shortened version of an article that first appeared in the print edition of Weekend Post on Saturday July 14 2012. 

Domingo’s gruelling itinerary

Picture: Mike Holmes

By George Byron

PORT Elizabeth’s Russell Domingo was busy packing away his fishing tackle as he prepared to embark on one of the most gruelling international cricketing itineraries  ever  undertaken by a South African cricket team.
For the next few months Domingo, the Proteas assistant coach, will concentrate all his energy on helping his team land the biggest fish of their careers  – the scalp of the England cricket team.
Bluewater Bay-based Domingo, a self-confessed “fishing fanatic”, started his cricketing trip around the world with a short tour to Zimbabwe on Sunday June 17. From Zimbabwe the team travel to Switzerland for a team-building “adventure camp”  before they arrive in England in July for a demanding two-month tour against the world’s No 1 ranked nation.
They will barely have time to catch their breaths before they board another plane for the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka.
Once the World Cup is over the Proteas still have a tough away test series against Australia to negotiate. They also have two home series lined up against New Zealand and Australia this summer.
“Living out of a suitcase for nine months will be a big challenge for me because it will be new to me. I have never toured that much before and it will be a routine of training, match and travel days for quite a few months,” said the 37-year-old highly-rated former Warriors coach.
“This is a fantastic time to be involved with the Proteas and it is going be a wonderful experience to be on tour with South Africa’s best players and see so many different places,” said Domingo.
Domingo, who along with head coach Gary Kirsten will be masterminding South Africa’s bid to topple England, says he will miss his home, quality time with his family and fishing with his mates.
“It will be tough to be away from my wife Genevieve for so long and my sons Kyle  and Liam are both at important ages and I am sure they will miss me.
“Of course I will also miss my fishing. I am crazy about fishing and try to get down to the river or sea at least three or four times a week.”
Domingo, who toured New Zealand with the Proteas earlier this year, said his late father Wendell had introduced him to cricket. “I can thank him for passing on his love and passion for the game.”

This is a shortened version of an article that first appeared in the print edition of Weekend Post on Saturday June 16 2012. 

Golfer lets driver talk

By George Byron

WHEN the world’s best deaf golfers gather in Tsu in Japan for their World Championships  in October there will be no language barriers among the multi-lingual international playing contingent.
“We communicate with our universal language, which is by signs or lip-reading,” said Port Elizabeth’s Gail Klichowicz, who will represent South Africa at the event.
“It doesn’t matter whether you’re playing against a Japanese player or an Italian player. We can all understand one another and communicate easily.”
Sign language and lip reading are required as during play all the contestants have to remove hearing aids.
Klichowicz, who only started playing golf five years ago, said her love for the game blossomed  when she represented South Africa at the World Champs at St Andrew’s, in Scotland, in 2010.
“One day the family went to a golf shop to buy some clubs for my son Michael for his birthday.I went over to see what the women’s golf clubs cost. They were having a special where you could buy all the clubs and the bag for R1700. We decided to take advantage – and I have never looked back.” said Klichowicz, who only started playing golf at the age of 40.
Klichowicz is planning to be in top form for the world championships, and currently plays off an 18 handicap.
“My coach, Graeme Whale, believes I can achieve a single figure handicap, but I don’t know if I can achieve that. I think 12 would be a good handicap for me.”
Apart from her sessions on the range, Klichowicz has a weekly game with her husband Nick every Sunday.  “I always beat him but he takes it very well,” she chuckled.
Klichowicz, whose mother and father are both deaf,  was born with hearing, but lost it by the age of 18 months.
“To be eligible to play at the World Championships you have to show what level of hearing you have. They measure it in decibels and an audiogram has to be sent to the governing body for approval.”
This remarkable golfer is arranging a golf day at the PE Golf Club on August 30 to raise funds for her trip to Japan, which will cost between R30000 and R40000
* Anyone wanting to play at Klichowicz’s fundraising golf day may contact her at gail@dvlpe.co.za or at 083 658 6858.

This is a shortened version of the article which appeared in Weekend Post on June 2.

Van Vuuren makes the grade for top French rugby club

Michael van Vuuren

By George Byron

A DREAM has come true for former Grey High schoolboy and current Free State rugby hooker Michael van Vuuren  who has signed a lucrative “big money” two-year contract  to play for the world-famous Stade Francais club.

The big-spending French outfit, who are known as the Manchester United of French rugby and regularly play in front of 80 000 fans at France’s national stadium Stade de France, have had their sights on Van Vuuren for some time. Van Vuuren, 20, who played for the EP Craven week team and the  Grey 1st XV in 2008 and 2009, made a name for himself while playing hooker for the Springbok  under-20 team at the IRB Junior World Championship.

The Port Elizabeth-born forward’s name was put forward to Stade Francais by the South African-born former French prop Pieter de Villiers who worked with Van Vuuren at Investec Academy last year.

“Pieter’s decision to put my name forward to Stade Francais played a big role in me receiving the offer from the club. My goal is to treat this as a  learning curve. I am still young and desperately keen to learn,” he said.

Asked why he had decided to move on, Van Vuuren said he felt the time had arrived for a new challenge. “I’m still young so now is probably the best time for me to go away for a few years and develop my game in key areas like scrum work and tight phases of play.” Van Vuuren says he has not turned his back on South Africa and still dreams of playing for the Boks.

This is a shortened version of an article that first appeared in the print edition of Weekend Post on Saturday April 28, 2012.

Johnson in Kings’ sights for coach

MARTIN JOHNSON

By George Byron

FORMER England World Cup-winning captain and rugby legend Martin Johnson’s name is being thrown around as a possible head coach of the Southern Kings for next year’s Super Rugby tournament.
Eastern Province rugby are busy hunting for a “world-class” head coach to spearhead the Kings’ much anticipated debut in Super Rugby. The new coach is expected to be named before the start of the Currie Cup season at the end of June.
Johnson, who captained England to their World Cup triumph in 2003, recently resigned as the England team manager and his name has been mentioned as a possible candidate in EP rugby circles. Insiders say the legendary Johnson possesses the type of credentials the Kings are looking for in their new coach.
The quest to identify a coach is being led by EP’s current head coach Alan Solomons. He is regarded as one of the shrewdest brains in South African rugby.
EP Rugby chief executive Anele Pamba told Weekend Post in an exclusive interview that once the new coach had been appointed, Solomons would move to an all-powerful position of director of rugby.
Pampa said “apart from “head-hunting” a top coach Solomons is also busy looking for fresh blood to beef up the Kings’ squad for their Super Rugby campaign.
“We must remember Solomons held a top position at the International Rugby Board’s development wing so he knows many coaches and has a great deal of contacts in the international rugby world. His net will be spread very wide.
“In the end, it will be between president Cheeky Watson, Solly [Solomons] and myself to identify the man to lead the Kings in Super Rugby.”
Asked whether the candidates had been narrowed down, Pamba said negotiations were ongoing.
“Solly is doing the talking at this stage and we do not want to interfere in the process,” he said. “Once the coach has been named Solomons will move away from the limelight in Super Rugby and take charge of all our coaching structures.
“We don’t need to grow only in Super Rugby, but we have to ensure our under-19, u-21 and Craven Week teams all come up to scratch.”
Solomons disclosed in an interview earlier this year that recruitment of South African players plying their trade abroad would be a big part of the Kings’ strategy in the coming year.
“Fans can expect an almost totally revamped team for this year’s Currie Cup and then Super Rugby. About 70% of the squad could be new players,” Pamba said.
Asked what the biggest challenge facing the Kings was ahead of their Super Rugby debut Pamba replied: “Survival.”

This is a shortened version of an article that first appeared in the print edition of Weekend Post on Saturday March 17, 2012.

Bay ready to wrestle way to top

MARK BEALE

By George Byron

NELSON Mandela Bay is “ready to rumble” and set to become Africa’s wrestling capital provided plans to film a new 13-part television series get off the ground.
Africa’s top wrestling promoter, Mark Beale, told Weekend Post he was determined the new show would be filmed here. “In the past all my shows have been shot at the Urban Brew Studio in Johannesburg. This time I want the series to be filmed in the Bay.
“A venture like this could create at least 40 new jobs for local people,” said Beale, chief executive of World Wrestling Professionals (WWP). “I would like the Bay to become like Stamford in Connecticut, the home of American wrestling. It is a great boost to their economy and it could happen here.”
One visitor to attend one of Beale’s promotions at the Urban Brew Studio was President Jacob Zuma. “The president loves his wrestling and it was a great honour to meet him. He insisted on going into the dressing rooms and meeting the wrestlers.”
Beale has identified a warehouse in Newton Park which he says will be ideal for filming the new series.
“We want to get as many Bay celebrities involved as possible. EP Kings rugby chief executive Anele Pamba has already indicated he would like to be involved.”
The WWP is rated among the top five federations in the world. It is especially known for promoting local talent, and one of SA’s top wrestlers hails from the Bay.
All-Africa champion and SA’s only black professional wrestler, Zama “Kwaito Kid” Njokweni, was discovered by Beale in 2003 and will play a key role in the new series.

This is a shortened version of an article that first appeared in the print edition of Weekend Post on Saturday March 3 2012.  

Urgent bid to return ‘big-time’ soccer to Bay

By George Byron 

MAJOR new plans have been announced in an urgent bid to bring “big-time” soccer back to Nelson Mandela Bay following the decision last week by Bay United’s owners to relocate their club.

An innovative strategy was announced on Friday by Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium managing director Stefan Pretorius.

“Our long-term aim is to get a top team to relocate to the city and play at the stadium and build up support.”

Although he would not divulge teams that had been approached, it is believed they rank among the bestknown names in the South African game.

“In the short term we will do everything possible to get as many big matches as possible to be played at the stadium,” Pretorius said. “It is very sad Bay United have decided to relocate and the first prize for soccer lovers would have been if they had stayed in the city.”

Pretorius said the stadium wanted two major anchor tenants and that rugby was one of them. “We want soccer to be the other and we are doing everything possible to make that happen.”

Soccer administrator Boya Chetty said he would back any moves to get big-time soccer back. “It is in the interests of the stadium to have major soccer played at their venue and I hope they have success in attracting a top team.

“Because of the way soccer is structured it will be very difficult to get back to the top flight via the route of promotion. We are right at the bottom of the ladder.

“There is tremendous potential for soccer to become a big drawcard in Port Elizabeth. I will back the management at the stadium to the hilt,” Chetty said.

Bay United general manager Lungsi Mooi said the reasons stated by the club’s Limpopo-based owners for relocating were based mainly on the “lack of support received from the metro”.

The location of the city in terms of travel from regions where “quality teams” were based was another factor.

No major soccer has been played at the stadium since last year’s Fifa World Cup and the stadium is now the home of the EP Kings rugby team who are bidding for promotion to the Currie Cup Premier Division this season.

But while soccer fans are still reeling from the news that Umlilo are relocating, they can at least look forward to a clash between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates at the stadium in July.

The “Soweto derby by the sea” forms part of the Vodacom Challenge and more than 30000 fans are expected. Stadium management will be keen to see whether soccer still enjoys the tremendous pulling power of previous years when Chiefs play Pirates.

Big club cricket revamp planned

BOLD MOVE: Nelson Mandela Bay Cricket Board president Rajan Moodaley has big plans to boost club cricket. Picture: Mike Holmes

By George Byron

A MAJOR revamp is being planned to regenerate club cricket in Nelson Mandela Bay after the beleaguered sport reached an all-time low last season when pitch-side protests by disgruntled players brought shame to the game.

Stung into action by the gradual deterioration of his sport, Nelson Mandela Bay Cricket Board (NMBCB) president Rajan Moodaley has announced a detailed blueprint to get the game back on track and lift the overall standard of play. The new plans include the acquisition of specialised ground-keeping equipment to help struggling clubs produce decent pitches that will encourage the growth of the game.

 “We are working flat-out to ensure our leagues run smoothly this coming season,” said Moodaley, who vowed to leave no stone unturned in returning club cricket to its former glory.  “We invited all the clubs to a workshop to discuss the plans and the feedback has been excellent. There is a very positive mood at present.”

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has told its affiliates they want the creation of a standard pipeline that will teach skills and create structures to take talented players from mass participation to the national team.

 The final rounds of Nelson Mandela Bay’s Super A cricket league descended into chaos earlier this year after Union Cricket Club staged a sit-in at the finals in a protest over the state of facilities. The disgruntled clubs forfeited their semi-final against Gelvandale because the grass was too long at the Northville Sports Club in Bethelsdorp, where their match was to be played.

Moodaley said the NMBCB was engaged in “a serious fight” with the metro regarding the maintenance of the cricket fields. He said some of the main issues thrashed out at the workshop were the non-preparation of municipal facilities; assistance with transport; cricket balls and the maintenance of facilities.

 “The non-preparation of facilities has been a very disturbing matter throughout the past season,” said Moodaley. “Many fixtures had to be cancelled or postponed because of municipal facilities not being properly prepared or, in some instances, not prepared at all.

 “To try and alleviate this problem and ensure our fixtures are not disrupted we have decided to invest in the purchase of equipment that will be used to assist clubs with the preparation of facilities. This equipment consists of a flat-bed trailer, pitch mower, grass mower and roller. The Board will employ part-time personnel to do the necessary work.”

 Moodaley admitted many of the facilities clubs used, in particular municipal facilities, were not in a suitable condition.

 “During the past season we have been able to assist some clubs as they attempt to provide facilities of the required standard. We have given assistance to Gelvandale, KwaDwesi, Bloemendal, Malabar and KwaMaxagki and we are pleased with the results.

 “It is the intention of the board to continue with this programme and assist clubs wherever possible, even to the extent of providing new facilities where possible so the game of cricket can grow and spread to areas where it is not being played.”

 Moodaley said many clubs experienced great difficulty in getting to fields and had to make use of public transport or hire private drivers to travel to matches.

 “These costs are astronomical and most clubs simply cannot afford this. The cost of cricket balls is another huge problem clubs cannot deal with. Many community-based clubs are dependent on the board to assist them in this regard. With the limited funding at its disposal, the board has been able to provide clubs with balls, but not for all matches.”

 Moodaley said he had received good feedback at his workshop where clubs were canvassed on what should be done to revitalise the sport. “We have given the clubs up to the end of June to come forward with ideas.”

(This article originally appeared in the print edition of Weekend Post on Saturday, May 14, 2011.)

Once proud home of PE rugby being stripped by looters

OVERGROWN: Bay United general manager Lungsi Mooi sits among the weeds at the EPRU Stadium. Picture: Mike Holmes

By George Byron

THE Eastern Province Rugby Union Stadium, once the proud home of top class rugby in Port Elizabeth, is being systematically stripped by looters while historic memorabilia in the stadium’s offices and once plush hospitality suites have been vandalised and trampled on.

Now staff still left working in the stadium say they fear for their safety.

When Weekend Post visited the dilapidated stadium, efforts to enter the once grand Lawton Fourie Room proved difficult because of a cascade of water falling from the ceiling.

The guardhouse building at the main gate was unmanned and access to the stadium and the lifts in the main pavilion was unrestricted.

 Many of the abandoned suites were littered with broken glass, smashed windows and hanging electrical fittings which had been ripped out of the wall.

One room, which appeared once to have been used by the EPRU, had been ransacked and the drawers of a filing cabinet containing disciplinary case hearings rifled through and files strewn on the floor. The sliding door leading out from the suite had also been shattered.

 Photographs of proud moments in the history of EP Rugby lie discarded on the floor amid shattered glass panes. One suite, with a nameplate on the door: “Alan Solomons EP head coach”, has been abandoned and ransacked.

Though rugby is no longer played at the stadium, the run-down venue is now the logistical and training headquarters of Bay United which has administrative offices in the main grandstand. This week United general manager Lungsi Mooi spoke of her fear of going to work because of brazen looters entering the premises and stripping anything valuable out of the once luxurious wood-panelled suites.

Mooi, who has her office on the third floor of the main pavilion, is concerned for her safety because of the aggressive looting and lack of security at the stadium, which is municipal property. “I do not like spending time here any more. I have phoned the municipality to tell them about the looting on numerous occasions, but nothing is done.”

Sitting among the towering weeds on one of the stadium’s stands, Mooi appealed to the municipality to step up security and stop the looters from stripping the stadium’s remaining assets. “This place has become dilapidated and it is sad to see. Something drastic needs to be done.

 “There is talk that the stadium will eventually be demolished and new buildings erected. But I have heard nothing officially,” Mooi said.

Though Bay United play their matches at Gelvandale, the stadium once known as the Boet Erasmus is their logistical headquarters and they train on the main field.

The United players do not use the changerooms as they are in a poor state of repair.

 “We were just put here temporarily, so we cannot take charge of things like security and looting. Someone at local government or the municipality needs to take charge,” Mooi said.

 She said she would not like the stadium to be demolished as it could still serve a purpose as a sporting facility.

 “There is a need for facilities like this and I still see a future for the stadium. We could play our lesser games here while the big matches could be played at the new Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium,” Mooi said.

 Municipal spokesperson Kupido Baron said the looting was not acceptable and that the situation would be examined.

 “Even though there are plans to demolish the stadium we will have to look at an interim measure to stop the looting. Bay United have been placed at the stadium on a temporary basis. More permanent arrangements will have to be made for them,” Baron said.

In its heyday the Boet Erasmus was one of South Africa’s top four rugby stadiums and regularly attracted crowds of more than 50000 for tests against the All Blacks and British Lions.

 One of the most famous games at the stadium was in 1974 when the Boks lost to the Lions in what became known as the “Battle of the Boet”.

(This is a condensed version of an article originally published in the print edition of Weekend Post on Saturday, May 11, 2011.)

Life changes for Two Oceans winner

RACE HERO: Port Elizabeth’s George Ntshiliza recovers after winning the gruelling Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town. He is planning a new life after winning the ultra-marathon.

By George Byron 

WINNING the top-ranked Two Oceans ultra-marathon means far more to star Port Elizabeth runner George Ntshiliza than just a glittering gold medal draped around his neck and the instant adoration of the athletics world.

 The athlete who started running barefoot before progressing to cheap R35 supermarket running shoes says the R250000 winning purse will enable him to buy a new house and move out of an impoverished neighbourhood.

 “I come from a poor family so this is a life-changing moment. It has been an amazing time and I am so thankful to all those who have helped me along the way,” the Coega-born athlete told Weekend Post.

 Though some reports said Ntshiliza had been taken to a secret location after his cash windfall, he was very much in evidence at a midweek PE beachfront race where he showed up to support his Nedbank Club teammates.

 “I am surprised to hear about reports that I have been taken to a place of safety. However, I do have a fear that, because people have read that I won money I might become a target of thieves. So I have moved to a new location and when I receive my prize money I will buy a house in a different neighbourhood.

 “The area where I stay in Motherwell is not the sort of place an athlete can train properly.”

 At the beachfront race day Ntshiliza was continually approached by supporters who wanted to offer congratulations on his Two Oceans triumph.

 “I have never experienced anything like this before. I feel very proud at the moment.”

 The 31-year-old Ntshiliza restored South Africa’s battered pride by becoming the first local runner since 2003 to win the annual 56km event in Cape Town.

 “It was really good to beat the foreigners in the field and keep the SA flag flying high.”

 The PE athlete said Nedbank Club chief executive Irene van Eeden and her husband Jan had played a big role in planning his “come from behind” strategy.

 Ntshiliza was lying sixth at the 50km mark when he realised it was time to make his move.

 “I was feeling very strong at this point and could see the legs of the other competitors were not lifting well and they were battling. It was at this point that I said to myself the race was mine. My confidence grew when I saw the leader looking back and I thought I must not give up. I decided to start moving forward.

 “Irene also shouted to me that I could do it and I should believe in myself. This encouragement gave me a big boost,” the star said.

 An energised Ntshiliza then stormed past Lesotho’s Motlhokoa Nkhabutlane, to win by 18 seconds in a time of 3hr 8min 31sec. Earlier Zimbabwe’s Mike Fokoroni took the lead with 12km to go, but Nkhabutlane caught him 3km later.

 “For the past few days I have been thinking of all the people who have helped me along the way and apart from Jan and Irene I must make special mention of Alec Riddle who bought me my first proper pair of running shoes. Alec did a great deal to help me become a top athlete.”

 Riddle was Ntshiliza’s coach from the mid-1990s to mid-2000s when the runner first started making an impact on the running scene.

When Ntshiliza is not training he loves watching romantic and action movies on television. “I am also a big Orlando Pirates soccer fan and never miss their games on television.”

 When he was growing up one of Ntshiliza’s biggest heroes was star long-distance runner Hendrik Ramaala who won the 2004 New York City Marathon. “My dream is to meet Hendrik one day and speak to him about running. He is one of South Africa’s greatest athletes.”

Ntshiliza has for years been one of SA’s most respected distance runners.

 “Though the Two Oceans is the biggest achievement of my career I take great pride in some of my overseas performances. I competed in the World Half Marathon championships in Brazil in 2002 and came second in the Southern Region half-marathon in Mauritius in 2004.”

He had no plans to run the Comrades Marathon because it was not the right distance for him. “At the moment I will be running 10km and 15km races and see how things go before I look at what big races I can enter.”

(This is a condensed version of an article first published in the print edition of Weekend Post on Saturday, April 30, 2011.)