One way or another, Sam’s era is over

● Gideon Sam’s days are numbered as president of the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc).

Even if he survives the hand grenade lobbed at him this week at the ministerial committee of inquiry into Sascoc’s governance, Sam will not see out his tenure to 2020 because of age.

The Sascoc constitution requires board members to step down when they turn 70, in August 2019 in Sam’s case.

On Thursday former cricket lawyer David Becker alleged Sam had interfered to protect a federation president, a friend found guilty by a Sascoc-appointed investigation.

The Sunday Times understands more missiles will be fired in early March when the trio of dismissed employees — CEO Tubby Reddy, CFO Vinesh Maharaj and manager Jean Kelly — testify through their lawyer.

Sam will get a chance to explain himself. Since taking over as Sascoc president in the wake of SA’s woeful one-medal show at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Sam has offered predictions for major events.

He’s often been a little ambitious, but he has overseen the most successful SA Olympic teams since readmission, at London 2012 and Rio 2016.

But at the Commonwealth Games, SA slipped from fifth on the table in 2010 to seventh in 2014. Sam wants SA to reclaim fifth at Gold Coast, Australia, from April 4-15.

SA landed 13 golds in 2014 — the nation’s post-isolation best — but the value of fifth place rose to 15 pieces of gold.

The 2018 edition of Team SA has 29 topthree contenders, with 10 No1s, including runner Caster Semenya, swimmer Chad Le Clos and the sevens rugby team, the defending champions.

They could get close, but Sam’s legacy might not be measured in medals.

In the end it could be blown away by the claim of meddling and other looming allegations.