SPURS DEAL IS ILL ADVISED, AT BEST

THERE has been a huge outcry from all sectors of society over the Tottenham Hotspur sponsorship deal with Tourism South Africa (TSA). It has reached hysterical proportions, and quite rightly so.

This is no time to be spending R1 billion on sports sponsorship because the country’s economy is in dire straits. Nor is this the time to ramp up tourism drives when daily curses like load shedding, high unemployment and out-of-control crime have become a nightmare.

Much of the anger and criticism directed at TSA, however, would be far more apt if it was channelled towards the national government, especially regarding the sports sector. On so many levels, the government has failed South African sport, and it seems there is no relief in sight.

The government has a basic duty to provide sports facilities, allocate grants for developing infrastructure, and make funds available for specialised programmes for the overall development of sport. In this it has come up woefully short, relying on individual sporting administrations and unions to grow their own codes, as well as the passion of individuals and groups who drive their codes forward.

It then unabashedly claims credit when success is achieved.

Sascoc, the controlling body for all high-performance sport in South Africa, cannot ensure that our top athletes make the Olympics due to maladministration and graft. Even so, it has roundly condemned the threeyear proposed R1 billion deal with Spurs, though those in glass houses should not cast stones.

However, in condemning the proposed deal. Sascoc hastened to add that it was pleased that there was recognition in the tourism industry of the role and reach of sport and its impact on tourism.

In that, at least, it was not wrong. There is no doubt that such a deal would work, but the timing of it is ill-advised, at best.

After all, two African countries have used such partnerships to boost their image. The first is Malawi, which has an agreement with Spanish second-tier side, CD Leganés, while three years ago Rwanda struck a deal with Arsenal to promote their country as a tourist destination.

Rwanda also has a deal with leading French Ligue 1 title bearers, PSG, from 2019.