Ali Bacher – from sportsman to TV interviewer

JACK MILNER

In Conversation, which is aired on SuperSport, started almost by accident and has turned into a very well-watched programme. Over the last seven years, Bacher has interviewed 39 high-profile sporting personalities and has travelled all over the world to do so.

The programme came about as the result of an incident during a Test match between Pakistan and England in 2010. “There was a very ugly incident in which three Pakistani cricketers were accused of being involved in spread betting,” explained Bacher.

“This was not a case of match fixing per se, but rather incidents where they would bowl a no-ball as the fourth ball of an over, for example. The British papers got hold of the story and they blew it up into a massive incident.

“I became very downhearted because I felt the last thing we needed was another scandal in world cricket.”

In trying to devise a plan to combat the negative press, Bacher thought that if he could find someone who was irreproachable to explain what had happened, he could defute the bad image.

“The person I thought of was Sachin Tendulkar. He and I are very close and he is a man with an impeccable reputation. So, I called him and told him that the world of cricket believes him and he needs to explain that cricket is in a healthy situation.

“He spoke to his manager who then contacted me and said Sachin supported what I had said and would do the interview.”

That was the first one and buoyed by the success, SuperSport has made it a regular programme. “We do about six or seven a year and I have loved every moment of it,” said Bacher.

Over the past seven years he has completed 39 interviews with some of the greatest sporting personalities. “Only 11 of them have been cricketers and they include Shane Warne, Steve Waugh, Ian Botham and Brian Lara.”

One of the early productions saw him interview Norman Gordon, who at the age of 100 was the world’s oldest living Test cricketer. The South African was the last living cricketer who played in the famous timeless Test in Durban in 1939 between South Africa and England, which ironically enough, ended in a draw.

“What’s important about the interview is that it needs to be spontaneous,” said Bacher. “I do a lot of studying and a lot of good people help me garner the necessary information, but every person has gone in without knowing the questions.

Only one person has asked me if he could have the questions, but when I explained that it needs to be unstructured, he was happy to do the programme without them.

“The other amazing fact is that not one person has asked to be paid for doing the interview.”

After the interview SuperSport producer Richard Parker will edit the programme, inserting footage wherever necessary. “Before it is aired, he will show me the edited version and I’ll give my views.

“All the proposals about who we interview are mine and they have never turned me down. I do always try to find someone who will interest the public.”

Asked who he considered his best interview Bacher replied instantly. “Steve Waugh. After he retired he didn’t want to do it. Then we both ended up in London and we met up at Lord’s. Reluctantly he agreed to do the interview, but once we started it was amazing.

“We went on straight for 60 minutes but Parker told me not to stop because it was so fascinating.”

The former Australian captain spoke about how he faced West Indian bowler Curtly Ambrose on a bad wicket. He bowled him a bouncer that almost killed him, but Waugh was determined to stand his ground and went on to score 70.

“Naas Botha was amazing. We often have to stop during the recording but with Naas he went straight through. We never stopped once.”

Other memorable interviews were with the late John “Shoes” Moshoeu, the Bafana Bafana player who sadly died after a long battle with cancer in 2015 at the age of 49.

“Kaizer Motaung was very interesting and he has achieved great things in soccer in this country.”

Next on the list is Caster Semenya and that interview will air on July 21. “This was a breath-taking interview,” said Bacher. “She has a strong personality and is very strong-willed.”

The interview after that – and it will be No 40 – will be with Piere (<<correct>> Strydom who is the only South African jockey – and among just a few in the world – who has ridden over 5 000 winners.