If you listen or read the news surrounding the funding of our sportsmen and women, it is not difficult to realise that our various sporting bodies are in a state of chaos. Herewith are just a few statements from our local newspapers: 

 

At the start of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) general meeting on Saturday, Gideon Sam, the president, told the delegates that "South African sport was at war with itself."

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The public protector was investigating SASOC for “maladministration and corruption.”

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Some South Africa’s most prominent Olympic sporting codes have pleaded for an increased support by government, corporation sponsors, and the media.

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Top officials in swimming, cycling, tennis, hockey and rowing insists they cannot achieve their lofty goalswithout more support.

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While British Cycling receive ₤32 million (R446 million) from sport England alone in the build-up to the 2016 Olympic in Rio, Bradly said CSA received grants of a little more than R4 million a year.

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AS is evident from the above comments, the solution to our future sporting heroes is only going to prosper if business and the private sector start playing a more meaningful role within sports development.

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It is also disappointing to note that the government only becomes involved in financial support when there are significant sporting events such as world cup soccer, Olympic Games, Common wealth games etc. How are our sporting stars meant to perform when no financial support is provided in the periods between these sporting events.

Finally, one of the main reasons behind the creation of the SDT was the impact that transformation was having on our sporting clubs. Historically, members of a club were making annual membership contributions to maintain the club and its infrastructure. However, to attract disadvantaged sportsman and woman to the clubs, the clubs must provide financial support to these sportsmen and women. The net result being that less funding was available to supporting the clubs activities and infrastructure. During the past few years, some clubs have had to close or merge with other clubs to survive. Merging of clubs can only be viewed in a negative light as it reduces the number of clubs playing which in turns reduces the potential for aspiring sportsmen and women to perform and be indentified.