Gloves Off with Andre Bloem: Quotas in Sport

Let me start by saying that I am not a fan of quota systems. My ideal world has no space for quotas.

However, is South African sport an ideal scenario or is it still suffering from a skewed foundation laid in the Apartheid years?

Some may argue that quota systems have already been used and are ultimately also based on racial discrimination.

Does it not make more sense to pick your strongest team?

Coaches live and die based on results.

Does the need for quotas mean that coaches are discriminating against black Africans at franchise level?

Are they discriminating on ability - surely there cannot be a race issue in 2013 South Africa...

Should a lack of transformation be addressed at professional level or is this something better targeted at schools and junior levels?

Professionals feed themselves based on appearances and how fair is it to limit their job opportunities based on skin colour?

Who decides when to pull the plug on quotas and just how many black Africans in a franchise team will be deemed enough to tick the transformation box?

Will we one day have a scenario when there will be quotas for minorities?

I am concerned that quotas amount to the opening of a can of worms where prevailing political opinions and race will decide who plays and who not.

Ultimately, I would prefer performances to do the talking for players of all races at the professional level.

But this may be naive from a marketing perspective. In the short-term anyway.

I suspect there are no easy answers...

What I do know is that the Proteas will need to lift their game in the second and final Test against Pakistan in Dubai.

It will start on 23 October.

Hashim Amla may well be on family responsibility leave and this could mean a big job for Dean Elgar at number 3.

- Andre Bloem

What do you think of quotas in sports? Tweet Andre via @SportswaveAndre to share your views.