rediff.com: Cronje's father pleads forgiveness for disgraced son

The father of disgraced South Africa cricket captain Hansie Cronje has appealed to the nation to give his son a chance to make a new life for himself.

Ewie Cronje's comments appeared in the Cape Times on Monday following his son Hansie's marathon 10-hour testimony to the King Commission regarding his alleged involvement in match-fixing.

At the end of his testimony in Cape Town on Friday, Cronje broke down in tears and had to be helped from the room.

Cronje senior was quoted as saying: "The past 12 weeks have been a very tough time for the entire Cronje family and hopefully we will emerge from it stronger people.

"Both myself and Frans (Hansie's older brother) have been present throughout Hansie's evidence. We have seen Hansie admit that he has done wrong and that he must be punished for it.

"He has also made an apology without reservation to everybody and I hope that the country and the game will accept it."

Cronje has not yet publicly commented on what he plans to do with the money he received as a result of his co-operation with bookmakers.

"Hansie has told me what he intends to do, but I think it would be inappropriate for me to make such a public disclosure as it has not come out before the commission," Ewie Cronje was quoted as saying.

"Suffice it to say that Hansie is going to have to find alternative employment for the rest of his working life. We have not discussed what that should be because, frankly, Hansie's mind has been focused on the commission for the past four weeks.

"It has not been possible for him to think about anything else, let alone take any decisions."

According to the newspaper, Cronje will remain in Cape Town in case the commission requires further evidence from him.

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