High expectations have ruined our sports teams
For us to choke, it would mean we were at some point in one of our matches in contention to win then we bottled it.
Dear South African sports fans, please lower your expectations.
In fact, have no expectations at all.
Every year, we take part in some or the other world cup, and despite history proving to us that we suck, we still think we’re going to win. We’re not.
This goes for all our sports teams; not just soccer, rugby, cricket, netball and hockey.
For those of you who still have the heart to support the Proteas, what kind of animal are you?
What we’ve done in this world cup, currently taking place in the home of cricket (England), is not choke.
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We’ve done so much more than that.
For us to choke, it would mean we were at some point in one of our matches in contention to win then we bottled it.
No.
We were never in contention; in fact our first point of the tournament came because the game was rained out.
In fact, now that we’re getting ready to play our final game against the Aussies on Saturday, I predict the Proteas will play the best cricket they’ve played all tournament because there’s no pressure on them.
You see, our boys don’t cope with pressure very well.
A columnist writing for The Citizen says, “the one thing you absolutely can rely on from our national cricket team is that, when there is nothing at stake, they will play out of their skins.”
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Some might disagree with me and say what about the Springboks?
They’ve won two world cups so far so one might say they are a safe bet.
No people, they’re not.
This is a team that was beaten by Japan in the last world cup.
Don’t even mention our perennial underachievers, otherwise known as Bafana Bafana.
They are surely the most over-paid prima donnas of them all.
Our current Minister of Transport, then the Minister of Sport and Recreation, Fikile Mbalula, got it right when he said they were a bunch of losers.
Harsh, but if the shoe fits …
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While we’re on the subject of expectations, we crushed Banyana Banyana (the women’s national soccer team), with our expectations and as a result, our girls buckled under the pressure.
Please don’t do the same to the Proteas netball team who are due to take part in Netball world Cup due to start later this month in Liverpool.
We’re in a tough group with Jamaica‚ Fiji and Trinidad and Tobago, so it’s not looking too good for us.
While I realise I’m being a tad mean to our sports teams, you must realise this little rant is a result of years of suffering.
It took a couple of these type of results to get to the conclusion that we shouldn’t expect great things from our teams.
Just let them play and let yourself be pleasantly surprised if they do well.
If they don’t, oh well, it’s no skin off your nose.
Just sit back, and enjoy the game for what it is … a distraction from your real life problems.
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