Mbalula must choose words carefully

Since he took over as Sports Minister late last year, Fikile Mbalula has correctly been lauded for his hands-on approach to a ministry which had appeared non-existent during the reign of his predecessor.

Mbalula has exuded energy, and is in the news almost every second day, providing sound clips laden with big words and promises. He has become the face of the ministry, just as he should be, visible at various key sporting events and never afraid to comment on any issue.

Mbalula is also clued up on almost every matter, unlike the man he took over from, Makhenkesi Stofile, who could hardly be seen during the biggest sporting events on these shores recently – the Fifa Confederations Cup in 2009 and last year’s World Cup.

We can only imagine how Mbalula, if he were minister as Bafana Bafana sank to a shameful first-round exit from the World Cup last year, would have reacted.

Unlike Stofile, he would probably have had a full go at Carlos Parreira’s team, who pocketed millions in spite of disgracing the nation by becoming the first ever hosts of the tournament not to proceed to the knockout phases.

We can also imagine that Joel Santana – by far the worst Bafana coach since readmission – would have dreaded ever setting his foot in this country if Mbalula was in charge then.

But Santana coined it very big without ever being told by anybody in authority that his regime was failing Bafana, or, to quote Mbalula over the team’s recent failure to qualify for the African Nations Cup, “disgraceful”.

It is thus refreshing not only to hear Mbalula speak, but also see him practically engaging on issues of national sporting importance. Pictures of him posing with Shakes Mashaba at the sending off of the national under-23 ahead of their Olympic qualifying tournament, beginning today in Morocco, will have filled the delegation with encouragement. And that’s just as well after the senseless dispute that preceded their departure, as Premier Soccer League and SA Football Association bosses bickered like little kids instead of putting the nation ahead of their own selfish, petty interests.

But as much as Mbalula has been a breath of fresh air, there’s always a danger that some among us may be charmed by his warmth and thus fail to interrogate the content of what he says.

A perfect example could be found at the national sports indaba this week, where Mbalula gave a rousing opening speech, applauded by delegates.

Among other things, he commented on the booing of Katlego Mphela during Bafana’s recent friendly against Ivory Coast. Deploring the fact that Mphela reacted by gesticulating to the crowd after he had scored an equaliser, the honourable minister said something along these lines: “So many people have been booed before, like Phil Masinga, but they never reacted that way (as Mphela did). You can do that at your club, but not when representing the country.”

Applause filled the conference room at this point, which was remarkable given that Mbalula remained silent on the fans’ own behaviour, let alone the fact that – as this column pointed out last week – Mphela was experiencing this for a second time.

It was absolutely strange, to say the least, that a minister would seize a public platform to rebuke a player – who happens to possess the best strike rate for the national team – and say nothing about the people who directed abuse at him.

That may have won Mbalula some applause, made for some nice soundbytes and perhaps enhanced his reputation as a no-nonsense tough-talker, but the minister should also guard against resorting to empty rhetoric simply to hear his own voice in the news bulletins.

Several matters in our football remain unresolved, such as the cold war between Safa and the PSL which nearly sabotaged our national under-23s, yet Mbalula had kept his distance until the team was put together, and was seen opportunistically posing for pictures with them this week.

Closing the indaba, he also spoke about “development” – a word which even the sleepy Stofile tended to misuse. Mbalula, too, should truly strive to push for grassroots development, otherwise he risks being remembered as just another populist politician, raising his own profile by saying whatever his sycophantic audience wants to hear.

*You can follow Matshe on Twitter @Nkareng - Saturday Star