RUGBY in the Border region faces its biggest challenges yet, with trouble-shooting administrator Monde Tabata recommending the winding down of the professional company Border Rugby (Pty) Ltd, while salvaging the Border Bulldogs franchise.And the game’s ability to recognise and promote stars of the future may be hobbled by the retrenchment of 10 development officers tasked with mentoring up-and-coming youngsters.
Tabata, who was appointed by the SA Rugby Union (Saru) to manage the affairs of the beleaguered Border Rugby Football Union (BRFU), confirmed this week that he had made recommendations that the professional company be closed down.
The Bulldogs have a squad of 33 contracted players. BRFU acting general manager Dumisani Mhani said: “The professional arm now falls under the union, so the onus is on us to support and encourage the Bulldogs positively at all levels. BRFU is doing all ... to assist in a smooth transition and (is installing) a support system.”
Saru decided it had to act with urgency earlier this year to save the union from bankruptcy, and in March appointed Tabata to run the financial affairs of the union. Among early decisions he took was to retrench development officers. By then a decision had already been taken to get rid of the vehicles used for development.
“My intention is not to put people on the street; we will assist in finding something for them.
“Look, the honest truth is that this union doesn’t have money. The last sponsorship here was in 2002.
“The bone of contention here was that the union was left with no resources; they had no money to run the business as the transfers from Saru would go straight to the Pty. Remember that the union was a majority shareholder; this became a crisis.”
He said one thing that motivated Saru’s urgent intervention was Mkolo’s trip to Cape Town to meet Saru executives as he needed the assistance of its executive. “We had to have an urgent conference on this.”
Touching on Mkolo being owed more than R600000 by the BRFU, Tabata said: “That should have never happened. If we had money we would prioritise the payment of that loan.”
Apparently the loan from Mkolo paid salaries, legal fees and vehicle and travel expenses.
Tabata said funding from Saru had been secured to meet players’ salaries and the union now had one coach.
Some of the changes Tabata has come up with are:
- Merging the coaching staff;
- Solving the players’ salary issues;
- The introduction of junior contracts and match fees for new players; and
- Securing free training for players at Virgin Active until August.
Saru has extended Tabata’s stay until the end of August. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
Professional rugby arm faces closure
And the game’s ability to recognise and promote stars of the future may be hobbled by the retrenchment of 10 development officers tasked with mentoring up-and-coming youngsters.
Tabata, who was appointed by the SA Rugby Union (Saru) to manage the affairs of the beleaguered Border Rugby Football Union (BRFU), confirmed this week that he had made recommendations that the professional company be closed down.
The Bulldogs have a squad of 33 contracted players. BRFU acting general manager Dumisani Mhani said: “The professional arm now falls under the union, so the onus is on us to support and encourage the Bulldogs positively at all levels. BRFU is doing all ... to assist in a smooth transition and (is installing) a support system.”
Saru decided it had to act with urgency earlier this year to save the union from bankruptcy, and in March appointed Tabata to run the financial affairs of the union. Among early decisions he took was to retrench development officers. By then a decision had already been taken to get rid of the vehicles used for development.
“My intention is not to put people on the street; we will assist in finding something for them.
“Look, the honest truth is that this union doesn’t have money. The last sponsorship here was in 2002.
“The bone of contention here was that the union was left with no resources; they had no money to run the business as the transfers from Saru would go straight to the Pty. Remember that the union was a majority shareholder; this became a crisis.”
He said one thing that motivated Saru’s urgent intervention was Mkolo’s trip to Cape Town to meet Saru executives as he needed the assistance of its executive. “We had to have an urgent conference on this.”
Touching on Mkolo being owed more than R600000 by the BRFU, Tabata said: “That should have never happened. If we had money we would prioritise the payment of that loan.”
Apparently the loan from Mkolo paid salaries, legal fees and vehicle and travel expenses.
Tabata said funding from Saru had been secured to meet players’ salaries and the union now had one coach.
Some of the changes Tabata has come up with are:
Saru has extended Tabata’s stay until the end of August. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
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