Our President, Mr Gideon Sam and I have just returned from a most exciting time in the Caribbean and here at SASCOC we are absolutely delighted at our President’s appointment as one of the two Vice-Presidents of the Commonwealth Games Federation.
This is certainly an exciting time for South African sport, as they surely couldn’t have appointed a more passionate sports administrator.
However, while we were still clearing our celebratory glasses in the Caribbean, we were hit with the news of the death of yet another youngster ÔÇô that of former Springbok Solly Tyibilika. What a terrible tragedy and at SASCOC we are grieving with SARU, and members of the Tyibilika family. Our sincere condolences to all of them.
On a happier note I am always excited to see small projects grow into great successes and Cynthia Tshaka’s Sports Heroes Walk Against Aids (SHWAA) foundation is now anything but a small project. SASCOC has been in partnership with SHWAA since its infancy, which is why we were delighted to welcome Deputy Minister Gwen Ramakgopa and Discovery CEO, Jonathan Broomberg to this years’ Sports Heroes gala dinner, hosted by SASCOC right here at the Olympic House.
The evening was a roaring success. The Honourable Minister of Sports and Recreation, Mr Fikile Mbalula, members of the South African and Australian cricket teams, some of our OPEX athletes, Olympic champions, former rugby players, HIV /Aids activists, etc all graced the evening with us, and we managed to raise much needed funds to this great cause! Well done to all who have been involved in some way or other.
Speaking of cricket; the two teams who were dining with us will conclude their Test battle here in Johannesburg this weekend and good luck to our Proteas. And while the Proteas will be looking to wrap up this series; SASCOC will be busy with the Coaches Conference this weekend. A three-day workshop, it will highlight the issues around SA sport, the core of which is that of coaching. Thereafter the Honourable Minister will host the 2011 Sports Indaba next week, which SASCOC is only too delighted to be part of.
It is also with great sadness I announce that we have had to place the Karate SA and Powerboat SA National Federations under SASCOC administration that will now be administered by our selected board members, James Letuka and Kobus Marais respectively. We said from the outset that we will not tolerate anything less than the standard set for our members and any federation that fails to comply will face the consequences.