Marco's Monday Review

By Marco Jacobs (CCFM sports presenter of the show, Saturday Sport 10 - 12 every Saturday morning)

It seems that for the last few weeks I have been writing about some sport star or other that has lost their life. This week proves to be no different. The story that was on most people’s lips was the death of Australian cricketer, Phillip Hughes. The world of cricket as well as other sporting codes was plunged into shock and despair. The incident involving fast bowler, Sean Abbott and batsman, Phillip Hughes, was as freakish as they come. It was a one-in-a-million chance collision between ball and artery. According to an interview that Professor Tim Noakes gave on a local radio station, the place where the ball hit Hughes is on a place that is actually better protected than on any place on the side of the head near the temple area.

I think that we are always more cognisant when a young person, who has so much potential and seemingly unfulfilled, dies! Phil Hughes was a young cricketer with tremendous ability. He was only twenty-five at the time. He died a few days before his next birthday. He would have turned twenty-six years old yesterday. What hit home for me was how when I was a youngster, we used to play the game of cricket with little or no protection. We played games amongst the neighbourhood kids. We played for the love of the game. We always challenged other kids from the neighbouring streets to a match. We even had our own spectators! We just wanted to play, sometimes risking the wrath of our parents if we dared come home late. We knew the consequences of a hard cricket ball causing potential damage to a player should he get struck by the ball. We just did not care! Not even our mom’s famous monosyllable beatings could stop us from playing the gentleman’s game. Some of you reading this article know exactly what I am talking about. Sure there were some body blows and sore bodies at times but we always came back for more! I have come to the conclusion that we were either stupid or lucky or as I suspect now, a bit of both!

Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that a clampdown on bouncers is unlikely despite the death of Phillip Hughes chief executive, David Richardson, said on Sunday. “We need to try and keep our perspective,” Richardson, speaking to BBC Radio, said when asked if the ICC would move to further restrict the use of the bouncer.

“It’s a bit early to determine, but my initial reaction is that it is unlikely.

“People have died by being struck on the heart before. I don’t think cricket needs to over-react, but do what we can.”

The ICC will have a re-look at the protection being offered to batsmen especially the design of the helmets that are currently in use. According to former Australia wicketkeeper, Adam Gilchrist, bouncers were all part of the game but that modifications could be made to helmets.

“I guess we could extend the helmet a little bit further down the back of the neck,” he told the BBC.

Let’s trust that something good can come out this unfortunate situation. Spare a thought though for Sean Abbott. No one should have to go through the trauma that he must be going through. He is only twenty-two years old and being directly involved in the incident that caused the death of another cricketer is something that he will live with for the rest of his life. The family of Phil Hughes has according to media reports rallied around the youngster. Cricket Australia has also assured Abbott of their full support and rightfully so. Australia captain, Michael Clarke, who is visibly pained by the experience, has also expressed his commitment to stand by his teammate in this difficult time. May all concerned find eventual solace through this extremely emotional period. To Phillip Hughes rest in peace!

Congratulations to Supersport United on winning the Telkom Knock Out competition. Gordon Igesund has barely been appointed as head coach of the Pretoria outfit and he has already added silverware to the club’s trophy cabinet. Igesund has somehow redeemed his reputation as one of the top football coaches in South Africa. Certain factions on the South African football scene somehow ridiculed him when he was the head coach of Bafana Bafana.

Supersport United clinched the cup competition by beating defending champions Platinum Stars 3-2. Gordon Igesund has proven himself a master motivator of players. He has won the league competition four times, with four different teams and has now added the Telkom Knock Out to further illustrate his ability as a top coach. South African football needs coaches of his calibre and experience to ensure that a high level of football is maintained on our local shores.

Ajax Cape Town is still flying high in second place after beating a resilient Bloemfontein Celtic 1-0 in a PSL match at Cape Town Stadium recently. Ajax is nine points behind log-leaders Kaizer Chiefs. It might be a flight of fancy to think that this youthful Ajax team can draw closer to Chiefs and wipe out the deficit but head coach Roger de Sa has not given up hope. He is banking on the likes of Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Bidvest Wits to slip up when they play in competitions involving the rest of Africa. I the case of Mamelodi Sundowns, who finished as league champions last season, and the runners-up Kaizer Chiefs will take part in the African Champions League, while Orlando Pirates and Bidvest Wits will participate in the Confederations Cup.

“The big four will be playing in Africa and that will take its toll for sure, some for the better and some for the worst,” said de Sa.

“That will come into play next year for sure.” It will hopefully be playing into the hands of Ajax Cape Town.

In England, the premier league is starting to take shape. Chelsea is sitting pretty on top of the log. But are they really? Manchester City moved within six points of leaders Chelsea and is seemingly hitting their straps with one convincing performance after another. City was particularly impressive yesterday against the up and coming Southampton outfit. When central defender Eliaquim Mangala was sent off for a second bookable offense, it could have signalled the start of a Southampton revival in the match. However, Manchester City was the team that got stronger. City was 1-0 up at the time and breakaway goals by Frank Lampard and Gael Clichy underpinned the dominance that ten-man Manchester City was showing at a time when they should have been a t a disadvantage. It is not to say that the Saints were walk-overs but it did illustrate the gulf in class between the two teams. City has served noticed on Chelsea that they won’t be having it all their own way and that they won’t be giving their title up without a fight!

A standout match in the EPL was Manchester United’s resounding win against Hull City at Old Trafford. This was probably United’s most commanding performance the whole season thus far. They dominated the match form start to finish and were up to some sly tricks before the match even started. Louis van Gaal pulled the wool over his opposite number’s, Steve Bruce, eyes. Before the match during the warm up session, they were doing some shadow work, mimicking match play. They lined up in a 3-5-2 formation and looked very intense in what they were doing. The Hull manager planned his team to counteract what Manchester United was supposedly planning. When the match finally kicked off, it was clear for everyone to see that the 3-5-2 was a red herring. United started with a flat back four, with Michael Carrick, who was supposed to be the central player in the back three, actually playing just in front of the defence. This proved to be a masterstroke from van Gaal as Hull City never recovered from this ruse. Is this turning out to be the resurgence of Manchester United? I suspect that the answer to that question will be known over the next month and a bit when the games will be happening thick and fast.

Liverpool and Arsenal returned to winning ways much to the relief of their fans and respective managers. Both, Brenden Rodgers and Arsene Wenger have come under pressure the last while and their respective supporters are still uneasy with how things have panned out. Football can be an unforgiving at times but it can also change at any given time. You could be the villain one week, a hero the next. Just ask Alan Pardew! He was allegedly one match from getting the sack, then after five consecutive wins, he became the toast of Newcastle again. Like they say, a week is a long time in football.

The Springboks completed their four –match European tour with a defeat to have a record of two wins and two losses. On the face of it, it does not look to bad a record. When one looks deeper, the tour was ultimately a failure. We are sitting with more questions than answers with little indication of who our best starting line-up is. Duane Vermeulen picks himself, Eben Etzebeth makes a case for himself and most likely Bryan Habana has pencilled himself him as well. If Juan de Villiers was fit, he would have been the first name on the team sheet. But it looks like he will in all probably miss the World Cup if early reports are to be believed. And with that it will in all likelihood spell the end of his international career. De Villiers has made no secret that he would call it a day after the World Cup. He would need a miracle of biblical proportions to be fit for the showpiece event. It seems the curse of the World Cup has struck again for De Villiers.

Getting back to the match against Wales, a lacklustre performance by the Boks was yet another in a series where they failed to hit their straps. They have by no means turned into a poor team overnight but one has to question the tactics employed by Heyneke Meyer on this tour. The Boks are playing antiquated rugby. They would be so much better off attacking the space like the best exponents of it, the All Blacks, are known for than trying to run over their opposition. The springboks have not benefited from this game plan on their northern hemisphere tour and are unlikely to improve when they return for the World Cup on the same shores next year. We can only hope that a fresher and more motivated Springbok team can perform as expected from a passionate South African rugby loving nation!

My honourable mention goes to Bafana Bafana for their continued upward curve under the tutelage of Ephraim Shakes Mashaba. They beat the Ivory Coast 2-0 in the Nelson Mandela Challenge on Sunday. There is a general feel-good factor about Bafana at the moment. Supersport United and Gordon Igesund can also take a bow for their winning of the Telkom Knock Out. Till next, Be awesome!