'Base Renegades in Eastern Cape'
January 30, 2002

Ngconde Balfour, the Minister of Sport, hopes that South Africa's fifth Super 12 side will be based in the Eastern Cape.

Speaking at the opening of the new Absa Stadium facilities made ossible through the British nternational Sport Development Aids Trust, Balfour said it made political sense to base the Renegades in the Eastern Cape-Border region.

"Economically it may be easier to accommodate the side elsewhere but the political side cannot be ignored," he said.

"I also hope those Renegade players who fell through the cracks of Super 12 selection make it to the top."

Balfour added that Border could not afford to have their young talent poached by richer provinces and urged Sarfu to ensure that development played a meaningful role in other provinces as well.

Balfour also spelt out what the next Springbok coach needed to achieve. "The new coach must be able to blend the game and players, and make it truly South African," he commented.

"In our quest to become champions, we need to take all South Africans with us and the new coach will have to buy into this vision." - Sapa

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