Response to Oregan Hoskins

At 23h00 last night (10/09) I found myself reading an open letter from Oreagan Hoskins.
I have been grappling with my emotions for the last two weeks. One part of me feels bad for not supporting the Boks because the players haven't picked themselves. The other part feels like if I support the Boks I'll be supporting the status quo, and indirectly telling SARU it's okay for them to re-hire Heyneke Meyer when they come back from England.

My decision was made easier last night. Hoskins' open letter sought to set a few thing straight. It did. It put in black and white the notion that SA Rugby is a self obsessed institution detached from reality. I'm not sure a fish can be applauded for swimming. When Hoskins affirms that SARU are the only union with a transformation treaty, why does he think this is groundbreaking? Did he stop to think why 15 years in to the new dispensation it was the only union that still required a transformation treaty?! Anecdotal evidence suggests SARU and the Springboks in particular are the slowest in the big three sports to transform.

When Pieter de Villiers was appointed Bok coach he was hamstrung from day one. Not only was he the Boks first non white coach, Hoskins also confirmed that, the reason he had landed the job was the color of his skin. The media and everybody else anti transformation used this as the stick they would beat him with for the duration of his career. His Bok team won the Tri-Nations, they found a way to beat him with the transformation stick. His Bok team won in New Zealand for the first time, they found a way to beat him with the transformation stick. Even when he picked a pretty white Bok team for the world cup they managed to beat him with the transformation stick!

Obfuscation is not a good look on a politician, it's even less of a good look on a sports administrator. Hoskins can't pull the wool over our eyes. We watch school boy rugby, and we watch Craven week. We see the number of talented black kids (who aren't only playing wing by the way) representing their schools. We also see when the system fails them and they never progress beyond Craven Week.
Is there a problem in terms of grassroots development? Yes. Is there a problem in the conveyor belt from post matric to proffessional? absolutely! But what does it matter because even when the few black players make it to the top level they have to work extra hard to prove they are worthy of Bok selection.
Think of the scenario where Siya Kolisi was assured he wasn't ready for Bok rugby the year after captaining the U21 side, however, Handre Pollard and Jesse Kriel were both "definitely ready" for selection the season after playing for the U21s. Elton Jantjies play his best season of Super rugby, he gets rewarded by being left behind so Morne Steyn can go to England rather. Lionel Mapoe has his best super rugby season, but Jesse Kriel who plays most of his super rugby season at fullback is moved to centre so that he plays in Mapoe's stead. I won't even go in to Juan de Jongh's non selection through out Meyer's tenure. Teboho Mohoje shows good form through out the Super rugby and championship season only for his spot to be usurped by Pieter Steph du Toit who hasn't played any rugby bar one half of a warm up game.
My point is, even when the players are there to be picked, they are not!

This is an emotive issue, and so it should be. Our national teams should stir up our emotions. The bok team under Meyer has simply antagonised us. Hoskins and Meyer should enjoy the Rugby world cup, but they shouldn't expect that everyone will.

Basotho Hearts

Sometimes, you have to throw yourself in to something without over thinking it. You see a girl. You like a girl. You walk up to her "hey, I saw you standing here..." A leap of faith! A leap so great it may just change your entire world.

Well, myself and two of my cousins have taken a leap of faith. We have conspired to start a business. It's a funny thing. We're only about a month in but we've completely immersed ourselves in this business. Our whatsapp group which was once a platform for ridiculous banter has evolved in to one long business conversation.
I thought I was a passionate person, but compared to these two ladies, I ain't even a little passionate. They are extremely hard working, and super tenacious as well! Watching them deconstruct and solve a problem is the most amazing thing. I'm gobsmacked at times at how brilliant these people are. People I've known all my life by the way. Just never in this context. What a thing!

The business is called Basotho Hearts! It's a market stall which will sell some fine "african cuisine". I use the term African cuisine loosely because in reality, it's just really good hearty nosh which everybody can enjoy. But even better than that, is the traditional homemade ginger beer that will have you licking your lips and returning to Basotho Hearts as often as a soapie fan watches Brooke, Ridge et al...

We have put our hearts in to this. We hope people will appreciate it, as much as we're appreciating this new world!