In trying times, sport has often given us some light.
It’s a distraction from chaos, an entertainment people can share and, at its most powerful, it can be an inspiration.
For many people, it provides us with heroes - role models whose examples we follow.
And it’s no different during the current global health crisis as the coronavirus stalks the planet.
Sport must play a role in the fight against this pandemic.
No doubt, it has. With most of sport suspended, it is following the advice of experts.
And for a sector of society where health and scientific data is crucial to success, it makes complete sense.
But unfortunately sport is also awash with money.
BAD CALL: Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa. Picture: Supplied.
Too many people are driven by it.
And at this time when stopping the spread of the virus to the most vulnerable of sport’s stakeholders, the fans, chasing the cash will put them in danger.
So it made me and a lot of people angry when sports minister Nathi Mthethwa gave the all clear on Tuesday night for the PSL to go ahead despite President Cyril Ramaphosa’s declaration of a national state of disaster.
It flew in the face of everything that’s being done to manage the crisis.
I hate to be the one to see things that aren’t there, but why?
Mthethwa had been adamant that all sport in SA shut down.
Of the Comrades Marathon that’s run in June, he said it couldn’t go ahead.
HELP MEKAAR: Marathon pals. Picture: Supplied.
But at this most crucial stage of the fight against Covid-19, when local transmissions have been confirmed, he is OK with the PSL continuing.
Safa, the nation’s football governing body, fired back on Wednesday that there would be no football until the situation can be reassessed.
It definitely makes plain what the interests of Mthethwa and the top leadership of the PSL are - profits over people.
Another thing that is clear, is the power struggle between the league and Safa.
As the professional arm of Safa, they have money and influence.
And that influence, if not money, was what clouded Mthethwa’s judgement on this issue.
The minister had no problem freezing other sports but not the PSL.
It’s not every day that Safa deserves praise, but in the case of Mthethwa and the PSL versus Safa, it’s 1-0 to Safa.
Playing behind closed doors
It seems all sports are looking at the possibility of continuing their schedules.
From rugby to soccer to tennis, everyone is keen on getting things going again as soon as possible.
All of them looking to keep their economies going.
Broadcasters want their money’s worth. Fans want their entertainment. And sports stars and support staff need their pay pakkies.
That’s all duidelik.
But they have to keep in mind that this health crisis isn’t just about them getting healthy and carrying on as normal.
No. This coronavirus crisis is likely going to get worse before it gets better.
MIXED MESSAGES: PSL chief Irvin Khoza. Picture: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
While China, where the disease originated, is recovering from the worst, other places are just starting to feel the devastating effects.
Numbers of confirmed cases in South Africa are growing by the day and thank God there have not been any deaths yet.
But we can’t assume that we will have suffered the worst after the campaign of current social distancing is over.
Just look at Italy, where the death toll was nearing 3000 on Thursday.
In Europe, 250 million are in lockdown.
And there are some governments are still thinking that they shouldn’t be taking action that is too drastic.
We can’t be complacent about stopping the spread. And then we have to deal with the fallout.
I understand that sport wants to be ready and I commend that, but they need to be more careful at the message that they are putting out.
I feel that the world as a community must heal before we can just get going again.
We have to show more compassion and heart.
Like selfless marathon runners who help their exhausted fellow competitors over the line, that’s how we must be at this time - without the physical contact, of course.
ADAMANT: Safa president Danny Jordaan. Picture: safa.net.
But you know what I mean.
Sports stars are often described as superhuman for their athletic abilities.
Perhaps now sport should redefine that to mean that they care about their fans as they profess.