WHITES SHOULD TAKE IT EASY ON SOCCER

I guess this week will not be complete without one adding their voice to the red hot debate that involves the PSL sponsorship committee and the Absa deal.

We all know the background by now that all looked rosy when the PSL enthusiastically announced the banking giant as the new sponsors of the league – having pipped Standard Bank at the post.

Then finance minister Trevor Manuel entered the fray, writing a scathing letter to the bank’s chief Steve Booysen to caution him about the morality of the deal.

Manuel’s actions set the cat among the pigeons because from that moment, both the banking institution and the PSL ran around trying to convince the public that the minister was out of line.

The bank reiterated that their business principles and ethics were above board, while the PSL dug deep to demonstrate that the decision of paying commissions to the negotiating team was discussed openly.

But then someone from the bank told me this week that some of their big clients, naturally monied white businesses and individuals, were threatening to close their accounts and take their money elsewhere.

I can’t say I didn’t see this coming, knowing the history of the bank. Remember one of the banks that was part of the amalgamation to form ABSA was known as Volkskas or something like that.

Without taking any sides or condoning the enrichment of certain individuals at the expense of soccer development, I think these racists are also out of order.

Rugby has been enjoying the backing of the same bank for many years, with amounts of sponsorship that will make what the PSL is getting a joke.

The same white businesses did not see it fit to boycott the bank to protest against rugby being turned into an accessory to further perpetrate racial segregation in the country.

But now that the sport that enjoys majority following in SA is supposed to benefit from the same institution, some people are quick to mount their morale high horses and shout blue murder.

That none of the dealings between the bank and rugby have been subject of public scrutiny does not necessarily mean everything they do is kosher. Maybe Oom Louis Luyt can help us understand the issue better in this regard.

As matters stand, the PSL has maintained that the payment of commissions was on hold pending a final decision. Let us rather wait and see what is the final outcome, before we become emotional about this.

Clearly this is not a light matter, considering the amount of money involved. The PSL should by now have an idea of how people from all levels of society feel about this and hopefully their final decision will be motivated by that – and of course the desire to do right by our soccer.