Cricket and politics don’t mix in SA

Cricket and politics don't mix in SA

South Africa go to poll today. It's kind of strange that a foreign country can host your tournament so comfortably within just a few weeks while the Indian government expressed their inability to do so in advance.

There are a lot of similarities in the multi-party democratic system in South Africa and India, but the approach to it is quite different.

Even though the crime rate is quite high here, the elections are generally free of violence and terrorist threats, the reason IPL could not be held back home.

The CEO of the Western Province Cricket Association, Prof Andre Odendaal is amused when told of the mix of cricket and politics in India and how cricketers are wooed as star campaigners by political parties.

"This is the fourth elections and we haven't had any cricketer who has contested since the end of the apartheid," the genial professor told MiD DAY at his Newlands office yesterday.

Odendaal is not just a cricket personality, but is highly respected and his opinion is valued.

He was the head of Robben Island after the release of legendary anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela from prison and was the one who converted the Island into a tourist attraction.

Odendaal has written seven books dealing with South African sports history and politics and in 2003 was awarded the SA president's lifetime achievement sports award.

Not many of them
"The only sports personality who has associated himself with politics is the current Springbok rugby coach Peter de Villiers. He has come out in support of the ruling ANC," said Odendaal, who has written seven books dealing with South African sports history and politics.

In the overall South African election history, the only two cricketers have contested elections.

"Eddie Barlow and Clive van Ryneveld contested in the 1960s and 1970s at the height of apartheid for liberal parties against the ruling national party.

"In fact, one of the political parties tried to advertise at the stadium during the South Africa vs Australia one-dayers, but Cricket South Africa immediately pulled it down. We want to keep cricket above politics."

The two sure don't mix well here.

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