Thandani a victim of his own stupidity

AS far as poor excuses go, the one Thandani “Bibo” Ntshumayelo proffered was powder puff. Line, hook and sinker.

At age 26 and unemployed after Orlando Pirates terminated his contract with immediate effect, Ntshumayelo’s career is effectively over. In its prime. Damn.

For what? Three lines of cocaine for two tons of fun? Double damn.

He mumbled something along the lines of his friends made him do it.

News that the diminutive defensive midfielder has been hit with a four-year ban after failing a drug test has elicited mixed emotions.

Some sections push the line that suggests the sentence is too stiff for a sniff.

Some circles share a view that he made his bed and he must lie on it.

Some quarters believe the club was cruel to chuck him out unceremoniously.

Here’s a bit of breaking news: Orlando Pirates took the trouble to invite experts to explain anti-doping rules of engagement to their players.

Several sources have confided to this columnist that Ntshumayelo was in attendance at the session in November.

His name appears on the attendance register.

For the duration of the session, Ntshumayelo did not only listen attentively, he also asked questions inquisitively.

And then in January he got tested and returned a positive drug test result.

He was exposed to information. He chose to ignore it. He exposed himself to the risk and he got caught with coke coursing through his veins.

It is incomprehensible how a person who took special interest during the dissemination of such vital information can become ignorant to the negative impact drugs can have on his career nine months later.

The club called him in. He confessed. In the bat of an eyelid he became a former Buccaneer. I may be accused of taking a self-righteous line and kicking a man while he is down. Did I just write line? Eish!

But, for Jah’s sake, players know that men in white coats from the South African Institute for Drugs Free Sport (SAIDS) mushroom from nowhere to conduct random drug tests.

Whether it is cocaine or performance enhancing drugs, the bottom line is it is something that you’re not allowed to do.

Without being preachy, rules are there to be respected.

It is only in Anita Baker’s song where they are meant to be broken.

Even in that song there is a line — flip, that word again — where Baker sings “I said that you ain’t no exception to the rule”.

Rules also say that Ntshumayelo has 21 days from when he received the ruling to appeal against it. Should he take that route, will he have a leg to stand on?

Sad as this situation is for Ntshumayelo, attempts to cast himself in a role of a victim are over-venturesome. Rules

Of course he is a victim. A victim of his own irresponsibility.

You undertake to play by the rules. When you are caught, you cannot say you are no longer playing by those rules anymore.

It is a pity that players do not learn from a supplication of examples of self-inflicted harm and own goals by those before them.

Anyone who has spoken to, or heard Lucas Tlhomelang speak about how cocaine destroyed his career will not sommer “powder” their nose.

Junaid Hartley is a pale shadow of himself thanks to his life sliding down a slippery slew of drugs. Recovered addict and veteran internationally renowned musician Bra Hugh Masekela speaks freely about the dangers of using drugs.

Still wondering why four years? The laws were amended last year. In the past it was two years, but the sanction was increased to four after the 2015 amendments. I love Bibo, whom I’ve known since his teenage years at SuperSport United.

Which is why it was sad to write this column. Is that Bob Marley singing “Excuse me while I light my spliff?”