John Smit captains the Springboks. Image: AFP PHOTO ADRIAN DENNIS
Sharks boss lashes out at ‘old Toyota Corolla from the past’ John Smit
Whether it was just banter or a nerve was struck, Marco Masotti labelled former Sharks skipper John Smit an ‘old Toyota Corolla from the past’.
John Smit captains the Springboks. Image: AFP PHOTO ADRIAN DENNIS
Sharks boss Marco Masotti had some fiery words for John Smit after the former Springbok commented on the team’s URC struggles.
Smit was a Sharks player for 14 seasons and served as the franchise’s CEO for three years prior to the equity deal that brought in Masotti and his partners.
Sharks boss lashes out at ‘old Toyota Corolla from the past’ John Smit in X rant
It seems that Masotti took exception to the use of a motor-vehicle related analogy by Smit.
Masotti took to X, formerly Twitter, to vent his frustration and to label Smit as an ‘old Toyota Corolla from the past’.
“They have a magnificent-looking team,” Smit had told SuperSport.
“It’s like walking through a parking lot and seeing a Ferrari, but as you peer through the window, it has no gearbox. That’s the reality.
“Why are they where they are? It used to be my problem for three years when I was CEO there. It’s such a complicated and loaded question,” the Springboks great said earlier in the week.
“We have a coach in Plum who has come back. He knows the culture of old. He understood what the Sharks were about, pre-equity deal. He’s had little ability to pick players or management, so it’s difficult to blame him. He has inherited everything that he’s got.
“Bottom of the log with that squad does beg for answers that all of us desperately want and I wish I had them. That’s a big part of my life and the Sharks badge is ingrained into my soul.
John Smit says its tough to watch Sharks struggle
“To watch them struggle is difficult. You could ask me, Plum, (CEO) Ed Coetzee, anyone, I’m not sure they would have an understanding of how you can be so far behind with such an unbelievable group of players.
“The only way to address it is to accept that this URC campaign has been an absolute disaster. We have some great players coming in next season. Plum will have a full year of understanding what he’s got, who he’s going to let go, who he’s adding, and will hope there’s some kind of realignment next year.
“The win over the weekend (against Ulster) was magic. So hopefully the corner has been turned.”
For the banter
Masotti would soften his tone in later missives on X, saying he was trying to banter with Smit.
“Just because I enjoy the occasional rugby banter does not mean I intended to criticize [John Smit]. He is an absolute hero of mine and I am grateful for all of his advice,” he wrote on X.
“Not all decisions have worked but he understands it is a journey and shares our goal of turning [the Sharks] into the best. We now have shareholders prepared to work on our Ferrari for the long term. Go Sharks!”
