Marco’s Monday Review

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

“Human memory is short and terribly fickle.” This quote by Janine di Giovanni can be ascribed to most sport fans the world over. In modern sport there seems to be no place for patience and processes to take its time and come to fruition in due time. We live in a results-driven, instant-gratification society that doesn’t suffer fools easily!

Watching Newcastle United ending Chelsea’s unbeaten run, and how it has altered the title race, made me think about how easily one can go from hero to villain and vice versa. Alan Pardew, manager of Newcastle United, is one such example. At the start of the current season it was going pear-shaped for his club when the results did not reflect the input from himself and his side. In fact, it was widely touted that he would get the sack. The Magpies fans were up in arms and banners calling for his axing as manager were out in full force at practically every match, home or away. Pardew was the firm favourite to become the first manager to get fired in this campaign. Then the turnaround came! It started with a scrappy 1- 0 home win against fellow strugglers Leicester City on the 4th of October. Nothing to write home about really and the local fans were still baying for his blood because of Newcastle United’s unconvincing performance. Newcastle then followed this result up with four consecutive wins against Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, West Bromwich Albion and Queenspark Rangers, respectively. At one stage they were fourth in the table after being at the foot of it for a while. The much-derided Pardew, who was seen as pariah, was all of a sudden hyped as a footballing messiah!

Isn’t it astounding that at one moment we can spew vitriol at an individual and the next he becomes celebrated and the toast of the town? Now I don’t for one moment call into question that supporters have their opinions and a right to it. What I do find amazing though is the way modern sport is administrated. With a lot of influence from corporate sponsors; it has changed the soul of sport indelibly. We have bought into this and are now paying the price. Take for instance the rise of the billionaire owners of football clubs in the EPL and how it has affected even the most staunchly resistant club, like Manchester United, to toe the line. No longer a dominant club, as of last season when they failed to qualify for a place in a European competition, United were compelled to take out their cheque book and play by the rules of those clubs like bitter-rivals Manchester City and Chelsea, who have usurped them as the leading team in the English Premier League. Some supporters who were once proud (and loud) to proclaim the Red Devils as their team of choice, jumped ship the moment it looked like they were sinking. Here too it appears that the memory were short and fickle! Similar to Newcastle United, Louis van Gaal’s team has won four games consecutively and have the chance to climb up to third place should they win their match against Southampton at St Mary’s tonight. This will be no easy task though since Southampton have been full value for money this season as well. A titanic match is at hand and promises to shape the course of the season of both clubs involved. Nonetheless, should they lose and drop down the table again; I would not be surprised if certain factions of supporters start with their negativity all over again.

The EPL has been fascinating to watch this season. West Ham United and Southampton are riding a crest of a wave at the moment. The Hammers are in a heady third place and their manager, Sam Allardyce were also another who were at loggerheads with his board. He was rumoured to be on his way out the club before the awesome run of results that they are presently experiencing. Do you see the fickleness theme that I am going with? Likewise with Southampton, who was not given much of a chance of survival in the Premier league this year. They have sold off most of their supposed stars and had to rebuild with a new manager, Ronald Koeman, to boot! The Saints find themselves in fourth place and their supporters are oozing confidence when it comes to the ability of their team. What is the object lesson here? Even in modern professional sport, processes have to be allowed to take place. Faith must be shown in the ability of the individual to deliver, unless that individual is inept or rank-bad. Manchester United fans would refer to David Moyes who could not come up to the mast as the boss of such a gigantic organisation. Would another season have made a difference? We will never know.

Another team that could do with an injection of faith from their supporters is the Springboks. They managed to win a match recently, albeit against the Proteas in an exhibition cricket match in honour of the late Nelson Mandela. Their recently completed tour of Europe left the South African rugby public with more questions than answers before the fast-approaching Rugby World in June next year. The Springboks were abject in their performances against Ireland, England, Italy and Wales. They could claim to have played their best rugby against England on that tour but that would be unsatisfactory to most supporters. The standard of their play left a lot to be desired and that brings me once again to the coach, Heyneke Meyer, who is under pressure from knowledgeable followers! Meyer is not the most-liked man as coach of the Springboks. He has divided opinion amongst fans because of the playing style of the team. Fans are often left frustrated when the Springboks don’t live up to their potential. It is perceived that the team is playing an antiquated brand of rugby and that they are not utilising the phenomenal talent at their disposal. Meyer has stuck to his beliefs. He is a man that is steadfast in what he wants to achieve. This is ultimately to win the Rugby World Cup. He is not unanimously praised by his countrymen, but that change should he win the World Cup. Everyone loves a winner! Niccolo Machiavelli is famously quoted as saying; “Of mankind we may say in general they are fickle, hypocritical, and in greedy of gain.” It is the nature of the sporting beast.

Chad le Clos continues to astound the sporting world! He made history on the final night of the FINA World Short-Course Championships in Doha yesterday when he became the first swimmer to win the 50m, 100m and 200m butterfly. He also won gold in the men’s 200m freestyle event!

He surpassed the three gold medals his compatriot, Ryk Neethling won at the 2006 edition in Shanghai. Le Clos annexed four gold medals, the biggest medal haul by an individual South African swimmer at a global showpiece.

So for his overall dominance of his sport this season and for having been a fantastic ambassador for this country, my outstanding sporting individual is Chad le Clos! Until next week, be awesome!