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Muna Singh disqualification a shame
2006-02-25 07:29:03
By Editor
The TIOT Rally of Tanzania 2006 was ’successfully’ staged last weekend.
While we congratulate the Automobile Association of Tanzania (AAT) for the effort, we wish to state that the organisers spoiled their own broth by declaring the victory of African champion Muna Singh null and avoid.
Of course, we agree that in any sports rules should be followed, but we do not understand the logic in disqualifying the winner when his car was inspected days before the rally.
Why did the organisers see it fit to only check the car after it had won the race?
What was there to disprove when the car was allowed in the first place?
The rally was eventually given to Belgian driver, Patriek Emontspool, who had come second to Singh.
But really, that was a sham of an award giving ceremony when one considers that the winner was one Zambian, whose country’s anthem was even played by the Tanzania Police Brass Band to signify his victory.
Decisions like the one we saw on Sunday at the New African Hotel will only serve to alienate good sportsmen willing to come to our country.
We believe sport should be left to action on the ground, and not to talk in boardrooms.
We agree with Singh and his sponsor Amarjit Dhillon that the whole rally should then be nullified because we understand even Emontspool did not agree with what had happened.
In any case, Singh has always been an excellent rally driver, and we do not agree with the organisers’ notion that a reinforced rear arm that they found on the car helped him to win the race.
Excellent sportsmen and women should be encouraged to come to Tanzania to compete if our standards of sport have to improve.
There were about 19 local drivers in last weekend’s rally, and Kirit Pandya, and his navigator Jatish Vara emerged fourth in the gruelling race.
Most of the drivers who entered, finished the race, which is an indication that rally standards are improving in the country.
We should allow this gradual trend to continue until we reach there.
What we should not force is victory that we do not deserve.
Let us put it this way, what if a local driver had come second, and Singh was disqualified?
Would independent people have seen it as a genuine disqualification or a hometown decision?
We hope the Federation of International Automobile (FIA) is following this controversy closely, and we hope the right decision would be reached for the sake of good sportsmanship.
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