The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Majola's plea to fans

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 24, 2006

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Majola's plea to fans

Johannesburg: South African Cricket Board (UCBSA) CEO Gerald Majola on Thursday called on the locals to refrain from hurling racial taunts at the touring Australian side and asked them to follow the principle of reconciliation propagated by the country's first black President and Nobel Prize winner Nelson Mandela.

``We want to show that one can support your nation fully and vocally, without resorting to racially abusing your opponents as happened to the Proteas in Australia,'' Mr. Majola said in a statement here.

``Our icons are people like Nelson Mandela, who believes in building the Rainbow Nation by bringing people together through sport. We must never let this arena for Madiba's (Mandela) reconciliation of people from diverse backgrounds be sullied by racism,'' he added.

The UCBSA chief said while the fans were free to be loud and vocal in their support they should not follow the Australians in abusing the players.

``We want to show those people that there is no place for that kind of behaviour,'' he said. Earlier, Proteas wicketkeeper Mark Boucher and fast bowler Andre Nel called on the crowds to abuse the visiting Australian team after the Graeme Smith led South Africans were racially abused by crowds Down Under

Gilchrist's stance

The much anticipated hostile reception from the crowds in South Africa does not worry Aussie vice-captain Adam Gilchrist because the swashbuckling batsman knows how to silence them. — UNI

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail