Amateur golf feels cheated

While relief was expressed by some codes at the weekend, frustration was revealed by others after sports minister Nathi Mthethwa (below) gave provisional clearance for professional athletes to resume training.

Mthethwa confirmed that professional contact sports, including football and rugby, would be allowed to return to training in a staggered, controlled manner as of today, under Level three of the national lockdown regulations.

Non-contact professional sports, meanwhile, were given the green light to resume training and competing.

However, all federations which wanted their codes to resume training or playing would have two weeks to submit proposals to government to map out procedures that would ensure the safety of the players and officials involved.

All sports events held under Level three of the lockdown would take place behind closed doors in empty stadiums, and the control measures would be strict.

“This is the news sport has been waiting to hear as it allows us to begin to ramp up preparations for an eventual return to play,” said SA Rugby chief executive Jurie Roux.

Mthethwa said his department would continue to engage with national federations, as the first major step was taken on what could be a long road to the full return of professional, amateur and recreational sport.

Not all codes were pleased, however, and GolfRSA said it was disappointed that amateur athletes had not yet been cleared, insisting it was crucial for golf clubs to be opened in order to relaunch an industry on the verge of collapse.

“There are approximately 40 000 people employed by golf clubs across South Africa, and 85% of these employees fall into the most vulnerable economic sector. “Our overriding priority is to save jobs as possible without adding any risk,” GolfRSA said in a statement.