New role for Clarke?

Press, 20 April 1982, Page 36

New role for Clarke?

NZPA London A former All black fullback, Don Clarke, has been approached to act as a roving ambassador putting souths African sport’s . case for international acceptability to the world. The approach has been made by the chairman of the Freedom in Sport organisation, an Irish businessman, Mr Tommie Campbell, who is urging South African sports administrators to form a united front and appoint a high calibre ambassador.

Clarke, the 1956-64 All Black fullback, is now resident in Johannesburg and working as a sales manager for South African Breweries,, the sponsors of the recent unofficial English cricket tour. Mr Campbell, who first met Clarke during the 196364 All Blacks tour to Britain, said yesterday he believed the New Zealander fitted his concept of the type of man South African sport needed as a roving'ambassador.. “Don fits the bill because he is an international figure

and yet is not linked to the establishment. He is also obviously of the calibre to do the job'. Mr Campbell’s concept of a united front “confederation” of South African sports bodies came, he said, from, a belief that the present picture of sport in the republic is. too fragmented. “The various groups -are each trying to do their own thing and there are lots of little jealousies. Therefore, when , any of them tries to do anything internationally, they are picked off like pigeons.”