THIS was yet another bleak weekend for the country's national sports teams. The cricket side Proteas seem hellbent in living up to the dictum that whatever Bafana Bafana do, they can do better.

THIS was yet another bleak weekend for the country's national sports teams. The cricket side Proteas seem hellbent in living up to the dictum that whatever Bafana Bafana do, they can do better.

It is a good thing that Bafana were not playing. They have managed to lose the faith of the nation that these days the only measure to speak of is whether they improved from their last match.

The Proteas were not the only ones to let the country down. The Springboks' tour of Europe continues to be tough for our boys after yet another long season. Between losses to France and Ireland they managed to sneak a win over rugby minnows Italy.

Patriotism requires that we stand by our teams through these trying times. We are confident that what we have witnessed is no more than a sporting equivalent of a recession. The boom is around the corner.