Right, I have had enough. The constant criticism, the sense of self-entitlement, the hypocrisy and short-term memory loss — it's all too much for me to handle. If the only contribution South African sports fans are capable of making is negative critique of the coaches and our teams, perhaps they should move on...

I am all for constructive criticism, but the general comment coming from local fans seems to be something along the lines of: "Ag man, the coach is kak!"; "Jislaaik the Boks are a bunch of moffies!"; or "Those bloody politicians and their quotas are ruining our game!"

The solutions are just as profound. "Sack the coach!"; "Drop Bryan Habana!"; "Fire all the Saru administrators!"; "Put Graeme Smith on a diet" and "Get the politicians out of the sport!".

Admittedly, I can agree with the last one, but we all know that is never going to happen.

The other standard line disgruntled supporters deliver every time the team loses (be it Bafana, the Proteas, the Springboks or whoever they follow) is that they would surely lose their jobs if they performed in such a manner. I am assuming then that none of these people work for Telkom, Eskom or the Post Office... (I could go on, but I won't).

And while I can understand the frustration felt by the majority of fans in South Africa when our teams do not do well, I believe a more measured approach is needed when de-constructing both their make-up and their performances.

I think the biggest problem is that South Africans are generally an emotional bunch. We feed off our anger and vent on just about anybody who will listen. We simply do not take a breath, cool off and consider all the factors — of which there are many.

Take the Proteas in England for example. The country rejoiced as skipper Graeme Smith clinched our first Test series win in England since isolation with a match-winning knock. It was a defining moment for Smith and capped an incredible Test season for the side. But less-than a week later, the selfsame Proteas were being pummelled in the ODI series as a long tour began to take its toll.

The outcry at home was inevitable, and perhaps justified, but some of it was just plain ridiculous. A number of Proteas fans were actually, rather unbelievably, calling for Smith to be axed as captain of the side! (Nevermind the fact that he did not even finish the ODI series due to injury.) Some were even calling for him to be dropped from the team! I am sure these 'fans' were celebrating the Test series victory and lauding Smith for his contribution at the time, so the turnaround left me in awe...

Then, of course, there is the current anger over the Springboks tour of the United Kingdom. Poor old Peter de Villiers must be wondering when he will receive a voice of approval. When he selected John Smit and Ruan Pienaar at tighthead and flyhalf, respectively, he was roundly criticised for his foolishness.

Many fans — and pundits — predicted they would lose to Wales because of Div's poor selections. Well, he was vindicated by both players performing admirably against Wales, but you wouldn't have thought so judging by the reaction from some Bok supporters. They believe that Pienaar and Smit should be given all the kudos not De Villiers, who initially chose them...

De Villiers is on a hiding to nothing really. When we win it is because the players did well — in spite of their coach, not because of him — but when we lose? Well, that's Div's fault of course! Hardly fair, or even logical, but there you go...

Yes, we won the World Cup under Jake White, yes he won the Tri-Nations on his first try, but our sojourns north under White were seldom that glamorous. It also needs to be said that we have not won all our end-of-season fixtures up north since 1997! So why the sudden overreaction by the Bok fans? The problem is that we tend to react in this manner every year. A huge amount of supporters were calling for White's head on more than one occasion during his tenure (especially throughout 2006!), but he ultimately proved them all wrong by delivering the William Webb Ellis Trophy.

And Jake White? Well, he is now one of our most celebrated coaches — that's a turnaround Luke Watson would be proud of...

This column should not be seen as an endorsement of any coach or player; I am by no means prepared to settle for second best and I am not for one moment saying that we do not have problems in our sporting codes — because, believe me, we do. But what I am calling for is a calm and reasonable response to our performances; not immediate panic followed by a witch-hunt.

Here is a fact for all SA sports fans: there will be times when our teams lose. It happens to all of us. But all I ask of my fellow South Africans is this; rejoice when times are good, but for the love of the game, offer the teams your support when it is not. Or at the very least, offer them something constructive when the need arises...

  • Has Rob gone soft? Are South Africans too harsh on their national teams? Leave your comments below!


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